Tragicomica at MAXXI: Irony in Italian Art from the Late 20th Century

Tragicomica at MAXXI: perspectives on Italian art since the late 20th century

Until 20 September 2026, Rome's MAXXI presents Tragicomica, an extensive survey of Italian contemporary art that gathers more than 300 works by around 130 artists to examine how irony and paradox operate in artistic practices from the late 20th century to the present.

Curated by Andrea Bellini and Francesco Stocchi, the exhibition rejects a strict chronological layout in favour of a continuous route that encourages thematic and visual dialogues across media — painting, sculpture, installation, performance and site-specific work — creating an immersive visiting experience.

• Key works and artists: pieces by Lucio Fontana; Merda d'artista by Piero Manzoni; La Nona ora by Maurizio Cattelan.
• Large-scale installations: Roberto Cuoghi’s cake sculptures; Piero Manzoni’s Living Sculpture; Gianni Colombo’s environmental device Bariestesia.
• Recent contributions: works such as Valerio Nicolai’s Sole con le code (2022) and Alighiero Boetti’s occasional Annual Lamp.

The exhibition highlights how humour, sacrilege and ambivalence serve as tools to address complex issues — from the instability of power to the anxieties of contemporary life — balancing tragic tension with comic relief.

Each work is accompanied by explanatory texts that prompt visitors to reflect, often ending with open questions to encourage active engagement. The museum’s large volumes allow for monumental installations that demand time and contemplation.

Practical tips: allow at least two hours for the visit; the spaces are generous but the works often require pauses to fully absorb their impact.