Maria Lai. A Journey to America - Repetto Gallery Lugano

This fall, Magazzino Italian Art will present the exhibition Maria Lai. A Journey to America, the first retrospective in the United States dedicated to a key figure in 20th-century Italian art, whose eclectic and visionary work bridged the traditions of her native Sardinia, the sensibilities and methods of Arte Povera, and the influence of American culture on the international art scene.

On view from November 15, 2024, to July 28, 2025, the exhibition will feature approximately 100 works by Maria Lai (Sardinia, Ulassai 1919–Cardedu 2013), including numerous works that will be presented to the public for the first time. Most of the pieces on display have never been exhibited in the United States. This exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Maria Lai’s work, from her beginnings in the 1950s to the 2000s, with a focus on her innovative approaches to collective and relational art.

The exhibition, curated by Magazzino Italian Art Artistic Director Paola Mura, presents a significant body of work from Magazzino’s collection and from private American collections and Italian institutions, including Fondazione Maria Lai, Fondazione di Sardegna, MAN – Museo d’Arte della Provincia di Nuoro, Museo di Aggius, Musei Civici di Cagliari, MUSMA – Museo della Scultura Contemporanea Matera, the Sardinian Regional Council, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the contribution of Ilisso Edizioni.

Maria Lai. A Journey to America / November 15, 2024 – July 28, 2025

The first retrospective in the United States dedicated to one of the most important Italian artists of the 20th century.