The “Amedeo Lia” Civic Museum in La Spezia is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its opening with the exhibition OZMO X LIA 30 – Inside the Collection, scheduled from July 3 to December 3, 2026. The opening is scheduled for July 2 at 5:30 p.m. The announcement was made by La Spezia Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini.
The exhibition project focuses on a dialogue between selected works from the museum’s permanent collection and the contemporary artistic language of OZMO (Gionata Gesi), who has been commissioned to create a site-specific work designed for the occasion. The exhibition, curated by Andrea Marmori and Anna Costantini, with installation design by Emanuele Martera, is based on a direct comparison between four masterpieces from the civic collection and four new works created by OZMO. The initiative is part of the program celebrating the museum’s 30th anniversary and also includes the redesign of the entrance and the transformation of the former Info Point into the new “Lia Next,” dedicated to educational activities, outreach, technology, and visual experimentation.
The selected historical works include Pontormo’s*Self-Portrait*, the *Saint Martin Giving His Cloak to the Poor* attributed to a circle associated with Raphael’s early years, a *Head of Apollo* from the Greco-Roman era, and the *Madonna del Soccorso* by Ansano di Michele Ciampanti of Lucca. Each historical work serves as the starting point for a new contemporary painting. This juxtaposition creates a network of relationships among different iconographies, techniques, and sensibilities.Pontormo’s *Self-Portrait* is linked to a new exploration of the theme of self-portraiture; the *Head of Apollo* is transposed into a two-dimensional pictorial plane; and *Saint Martin* and the *Madonna del Soccorso* become iconographic nuclei for further reinterpretations.
The four previously unseen canvases created by OZMO will become part of the City of La Spezia’s collection. This acquisition is a structural component of the project, as the works are created within the collection, engage with it, and rejoin it as new contemporary contributions, thereby enriching its heritage. Alongside the central core, the exhibition itinerary includes additional works by the artist placed throughout the museum’s galleries. The project thus encompasses the entire permanent exhibition, which is reinterpreted through a widespread contemporary presence capable of sparking new interpretations of the historical works without altering their structure.
One section of the exhibition is dedicated to OZMO’s artistic biography, presented through a narrative wall that traces the main stages of his career. The narrative spans his childhood in Lari, his training in underground comics and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, his early experiences with public art in Pisa, Florence, and Milan, and his evolution toward wall paintings in international contexts. OZMO X LIA 30 – Inside the Collection is conceived as an intervention that draws upon the museum’s collection and is subsequently reintegrated into it. The project thus serves as a bridge between the historical collection and contemporary art, without separating the two but rather establishing a dynamic relationship between them within the exhibition space of the La Spezia museum.
“The ‘Amedeo Lia’ Civic Museum,” states Pierluigi Peracchini, Mayor of La Spezia, “represents one of our city’s most important cultural treasures; it houses works of extraordinary artistic value which, thanks to the ongoing efforts to promote them over the years, continue to be known and appreciated by an ever-wider audience. The milestone of thirty years since its inauguration is a significant moment for the entire La Spezia community and offers us the opportunity to renew our deep gratitude to the Lia family, who, thanks to the new agreement, have made it possible to preserve and share a heritage of international significance within our region. “To celebrate this important anniversary, we have chosen to look to the future, bringing the great tradition preserved by the Museum into dialogue with the languages of contemporary art, creating a lively and stimulating dialogue between masterpieces of the past and new artistic expressions. We are particularly pleased to welcome back to La Spezia OZMO, an internationally renowned artist who has already left a significant mark on our city with his large-scale installation at the Quintino Sella Gallery: a work that, through art, has successfully conveyed a powerful message of peace, dialogue among peoples, and reflection on the universal values that unite people across all borders. With this new project, OZMO once again engages with our community and one of La Spezia’s iconic cultural landmarks, creating works that will become part of our civic heritage, reflecting the Administration’s commitment to continuing to invest in culture. Thanks also go to all municipal employees who work every day with commitment, expertise, and dedication to promote La Spezia’s cultural heritage. Thanks to their invaluable contribution, the Lia Museum continues to grow, innovate, and represent a cultural excellence capable of looking to the future without ever forgetting its roots.”
“Returning to La Spezia two years after my work on the Quintino Sella mountain hut is an honor for me,” says OZMO. “Engaging with this extraordinary collection is a great responsibility that has captivated me from the very beginning. I would like to thank the Mayor, the Director, and the curator, who believed in this project and developed it alongside me.”
 |
| La Spezia: The Lia Museum Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary—OZMO Engages with the Collection in a Site-Specific Exhibition |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
IT
FR
DE
ES
CN