Made in Italy at the Gagosian Gallery

Andy Warhol Vesuvius, 1985

2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy and to mark the occasion the Gagosian Gallery in Rome is currently presenting an exquisitely curated show called Made in Italy. Whilst the Grand Tour may have been all the rage in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Gagosian demonstrates through this group exhibition of pieces by some of the most important international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, that art continues to be influenced or inspired by Italy right up to the present day.

With almost forty works of art on display this gem of a show is well worth checking out and, as ever, the Gagosian easily holds its own against competition from the major contemporary galleries in town. There is, quite literally, something for everyone here - Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman riff on Leonardo da Vinci, Giorgio De Chirico and Caravaggio, whilst portrait busts of Italian women by Alberto Giacometti and Jeff Koons are displayed dramatically side by side. One of my favourite painters Cy Twombly, who had made Italy his home and sadly died in Rome earlier this month, is represented by a sculpture in the main room.

Be sure to visit the final fourth room where four works by Joseph Beuys are displayed, including one of his last, playful pieces - Capri Battery. Set apart in this small ante camera and installed in glass cases, they have all the air of somewhat ironic holy relics.

Made in Italy continues at the Gagosian Gallery at Via Francesco Crispi, 16 until 29 July, 2011. Highly recommended!

Image © 2011 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (Web-resolution, fair use)