She was one of the most influential figures in the recent history of contemporary art, who recognized the value of the most innovative artistic explorations well in advance and fostered a dialogue between the European and American art scenes. She is Ileana Sonnabend (1914–2007), the subject of the exhibition *Fireworks: Ileana Sonnabend and the Contemporary Art Boom*, scheduled at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome from November 3, 2026, to April 4, 2027. Curated by Mario Codognato, the exhibition is sponsored by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale and the Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, organized by the Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, and co-organized by the City of Mantua, in collaboration with the Sonnabend Collection Foundation in New York and Marsilio Arte.
The exhibition brings together over fifty works from the Sonnabend Collection Foundation in New York, the Sonnabend Collection Mantua—on permanent display since 2025 at the Palazzo della Ragione—and other major public and private collections. The works are all linked to the professional history of Ileana Sonnabend and to the galleries she managed alongside her husband, Michael Sonnabend, with the collaboration of their adopted son, Antonio Homem Sonnabend, beginning in the late 1960s.
Thirty-five artists are featured in the exhibition, selected from among the many leading figures in contemporary art whom the Sonnabends supported and exhibited throughout their careers. The exhibition will feature works by Giovanni Anselmo, Arman, John Baldessari, Georg Baselitz, Ashley Bickerton, Mel Bochner, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Christo, Jim Dine, Tano Festa, Dan Flavin, Gilbert & George, Giorgio Griffa, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Jannis Kounellis, Barry Le Va, Roy Lichtenstein, Piero Manzoni, John McCracken, Mario Merz, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, Claes Oldenburg, Luigi Ontani, Giulio Paolini, A. R. Penck, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Robert Rauschenberg, Mimmo Rotella, Mario Schifano, Richard Serra, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, and Gilberto Zorio. Through their works—some of which have never been exhibited in Italy before—the exhibition traces some of the defining moments in contemporary art, from Pop Art to Arte Povera, from Minimalism to NeoGeo, following the evolution of the most radical and experimental artistic explorations of recent decades.
At the heart of the exhibition are not only the works themselves, but above all Ileana Sonnabend’s extraordinary ability to identify new talent and connect different artistic worlds. Throughout her career, the gallery owner built a veritable bridge between Europe and New York, fostering exchange among artists on both sides of the Atlantic.
At her Paris gallery, she presented, among others, then-emerging American artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Jim Dine, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Bruce Nauman, alongside leading figures of the European scene such as Giorgio Griffa, Giovanni Anselmo, and Michelangelo Pistoletto. In New York, she helped introduce artists such as Giulio Paolini, Mario Merz, Georg Baselitz, Gilbert & George, Luigi Ontani, and Jannis Kounellis to the American public for the first time. His work was not limited to selecting and promoting artists; he also helped create an international network where different cultures, languages, and sensibilities could engage with one another.
The exhibition will occupy eight rooms on the main floor of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome and will unfold like a vast mosaic of works. The works will at times engage in dialogue with one another, while in other cases they will create contrasts and juxtapositions that highlight differences and affinities between various artistic languages. The central theme, however, remains the figure of Ileana Sonnabend, with her passion, her intuition, and her ability to anticipate the transformations of contemporary art. Among the masterpieces of American art on display are Jasper Johns’s *Figure 8*, Roy Lichtenstein’s *Wall Explosion II*, Andy Warhol’s *Nine Jackies *, and Robert Rauschenberg’s *Kite *.
Alongside these works are pieces linked to Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Arte Povera, as well as explorations by more recent artists such as Jeff Koons, Ashley Bickerton, and Luigi Ontani. Taken as a whole, the exhibition reflects Sonnabend’s particular interest in artists capable of experimenting with new artistic languages and pushing beyond the boundaries of established trends.
The exhibition project in Rome was conceived in dialogue with the permanent exhibition organized by the City of Mantua, creating two parallel and complementary itineraries dedicated to the Sonnabend Collection. The exhibition at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome thus allows for a broader interpretation of the collection and a deeper exploration of the life of a woman who played a significant role in the dissemination and promotion of international contemporary art.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalog published by Marsilio Arte, edited by Mario Codognato, with texts by the curator himself, as well as by Giorgia Gastaldon, Mirta d’Argenzio, and Eduardo Cicelyn.
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| Ileana Sonnabend and the Contemporary Art Boom: 50 Works on Display in Rome |
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