Rothko in Florence: major exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi

Rothko in Florence: exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi

From 14 March to 23 August 2026 the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi hosts a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Mark Rothko, curated by Christopher Rothko and Elena Geuna. The project is designed to engage the artist’s work with the historic architecture of the palace and key Florentine sites.

The exhibition is arranged chronologically and traces Rothko's development: early figurative and neo‑surrealist works from the 1930s–40s, the transition to Multiforms, the large color-field paintings that define his abstract language, and the late series such as Black and Gray and works on paper.

More than 70 works are on display, with loans from major international institutions and private collections, including pieces from the MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum, the Tate, the Centre Pompidou and the National Gallery of Art. Many works are shown in Italy for the first time.

The project extends to the city: the Museo di San Marco presents five works in dialogue with the Angelico frescoed cells, while the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana hosts two pieces interacting with Michelangelo's vestibule. These juxtapositions highlight how Florentine art and architecture influenced Rothko’s practice.

Why see it

• Comprehensive survey: an exhibition covering the major stages of Rothko’s career.
• Contextual dialogue: focused comparisons with 15th-century painting and Renaissance architecture.
• Intimate settings: gallery spaces arranged to enhance the contemplative experience of the paintings.

Practical information

• Dates: 14 March – 23 August 2026
• Venues: Palazzo Strozzi; special sections at Museo di San Marco and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence
• Curators: Christopher Rothko, Elena Geuna
• Main partner: Intesa Sanpaolo
• Visitor tips: book tickets online, allow at least 90 minutes, check opening hours and guided-visit options

Note: the selection emphasizes Rothko’s evolution in which color becomes spatial and meditative, moving from figuration to a powerful abstract expression.