"The Visionaries": Barga turns into an open-air museum with Emanuele

"The Visionaries": a dispersed exhibition through Barga

From 1 May to 30 September 2026, the historic center of Barga becomes an open-air stage for "The Visionaries", a solo exhibition by sculptor Emanuele Giannelli. The event combines large outdoor installations and indoor displays, with public artworks accessible around the clock and a main exhibition hub at the Oxo Gallery.

The exhibition route

The project develops along two complementary paths: an outdoor monumental trail, free and open h24, featuring Giannelli's signature giants, and an indoor presentation located in the Oxo Gallery (Piazza del Comune, 5), which hosts the core of the solo show.

• In the town: Mr Arbitrium Mirrored at Porta Reale; Korf in the octagonal square on viale Marconi; Gravity and Menchi Sospeso inside Palazzo Balduini.
• In local venues: works placed in restaurants and hotels such as Da Alfonso, Scacciaguai, Wine Not? and the Acchiappasogni Art Boutique Hotel.
• Outside the walls: installations distributed in the surrounding valley and at the Unipol agency in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and in Fornaci di Barga.

Opening and partners

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday 9 May 2026 at 18:00 at Porta Reale, with the ribbon-cutting at Oxo Gallery at 19:00. The exhibition is organized by the Municipality of Barga with support from the Tuscany Region, the association I Borghi più belli d'Italia, Oxo Collection gallery and several local partners including restaurants and businesses.

Why visit

Giannelli’s sculptures probe the relationship between progress, technology and imagination: monumental figures that create a striking dialogue with the historical setting, offering a contemporary and approachable cultural experience outside traditional museum spaces.

Practical information

• Dates: 1 May – 30 September 2026
• Main venue: Oxo Gallery, Piazza del Comune 5, Barga
• Outdoor access: free, open 24/7
• Website: www.oxocollection.it

About the artist

Emanuele Giannelli, born in Rome and based in Versilia, balances figurative and conceptual approaches in sculpture. His large-scale works reflect on contemporary contradictions, inviting viewers to interpret visions of the future and the marks of technological progress.