Kandinsky and Italy: MA*GA Gallarate’s most visited exhibition ever

Kandinsky and Italy: MA*GA Gallarate’s most visited exhibition ever

Dates: from 30 November 2025 to 12 April 2026. The exhibition "Kandinsky and Italy" closed with outstanding public interest, attracting more than 48,000 visitors—a new high for MA*GA.

Curated by Elisabetta Barisoni and Emma Zanella, the show framed Wassily Kandinsky’s work in relation to the Italian abstract movement, earning praise for both its scholarly rigour and public engagement.

Highlights of the exhibition

• Works on display: 130 pieces, including around 20 by Kandinsky.
• Featured artists: Paul Klee, Jean Arp, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Antoni Tàpies, Lucio Fontana, Osvaldo Licini, Fausto Melotti, Manlio Rho, Carla Accardi, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Piero Dorazio and others.
• Curators and partners: curated by Elisabetta Barisoni and Emma Zanella, in collaboration with the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.

The final weekend recorded particularly high turnout, with over a thousand admissions in a single day, surpassing the museum’s previous record set by the Andy Warhol exhibition (about 41,000 visitors).

Cultural and local impact

The exhibition received support from the Ministry of Culture, the patronage of the Municipality of Gallarate and backing from Regione Lombardia and other local partners. For MA*GA it was an opportunity to enhance its collection and consolidate its role as a reference centre for modern and contemporary art.

Museum leaders and local officials highlighted that the success stems from combining academic depth with accessible presentation and from institutional collaboration. The result strengthens MA*GA’s national profile and helps position Gallarate as a culturally attractive destination.

Visitor note: although the exhibition has concluded, its curatorial approach and public resonance leave a lasting reference point for future projects on 20th-century art.