An exhibition in Bibbona rediscovers Memo Vagaggini, a leading figure of the early 20th century

From July 9 to October 25, 2026, the Palazzo del Comune Vecchio in Bibbona ( Livorno) will host the exhibition *Memo Vagaggini: Painting Between Reality and Dream*, an exhibition dedicated to one of the leading figures in early 20th-century painting, Memo Vagaggini (Nicodemo Vagaggini; Santa Fiora, 1892 – Florence, 1955), offering a journey through his artistic output and life story. The exhibition aims to bring renewed attention to an artist associated with one of the most significant movements in Italian painting of the 1920s and 1930s, offering the public the opportunity to explore his work in depth through a selection of paintings, documents, and archival materials.

The exhibition brings together approximately thirty works by Memo Vagaggini, some of which are being shown to the public for the first time. Alongside the paintings are photographs, personal items, and publications that trace the painter’s artistic journey, allowing visitors to explore his creative evolution and the cultural context in which his artistic practice developed. The exhibition is designed to guide visitors in discovering an artist who was trained in the tradition of post-Macchiaioli painting and later contributed to the development of Magic Realism, a movement that characterized a significant part of Italian art during the interwar period.

The exhibition highlights the unique balance between observation of reality and a suspended dimension that distinguishes Vagaggini’s artistic vision. The works on display, in fact, reveal a style of painting in which the representation of reality intertwines with silent and alienating atmospheres, capable of transforming everyday scenes and figures into evocative images. It is precisely this ongoing dialogue between reality and dream—also evoked in the exhibition’s title—that serves as the central theme of the entire exhibition.

Through the paintings and documentary material, the exhibition also offers an in-depth look at the artist’s life, reconstructing his personal journey as well as his creative one. The photographs and objects help to paint a picture of Vagaggini within the cultural landscape of his time, while the publications allow us to contextualize his work within the framework of 20th-century Italian painting.

The initiative is organized by the Bibbona LAB Cultural Association with the sponsorship and support of the Region of Tuscany and the Municipality of Bibbona. The exhibition is curated by Ambra Margheri and Marco Vendali, in collaboration with Alfio Bigiotti and Serena Galigani.

To accompany the exhibition, a catalog edited by Eliana Princi and published by Polistampa has also been produced, designed as a resource for further exploration of the artist and the works on display.

The exhibition opened on Thursday, July 9, at 4:30 p.m. and will remain open to the public through October 25, 2026, at the Palazzo del Comune Vecchio in Bibbona. During July and August, the exhibition is open daily from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with free admission.

An exhibition in Bibbona rediscovers Memo Vagaggini, a leading figure of the early 20th century

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