Fireworks. Ileana Sonnabend and the Contemporary Art Boom at Palazzo Esposizioni Roma

Ileana Sonnabend is the focus of «Fireworks. Ileana Sonnabend and the contemporary art boom», the exhibition curated by Mario Codognato at Palazzo Esposizioni Roma, Via Nazionale 194, from November 3, 2026 to April 4, 2027, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, with entry allowed until one hour before closing. The price is not published in the official source, which points to the online ticket office.

Updated October 26, 2026.

Official presentation of the Ileana Sonnabend exhibition

Cinquantaquattro opere di trentacinque artisti, provenienti da importanti collezioni pubbliche e private, ripercorrono le principali ricerche artistiche che Sonnabend ha contribuito a far emergere.

Text from the official Cultura Roma Capitale page (service translation: “54 works by 35 artists, from major public and private collections, retrace the main artistic research that Sonnabend helped bring to light”), source

The exhibition tells the story of Ileana Sonnabend (1914-2007), a gallerist and collector who was among the most influential figures in the art of the second half of the 20th century. It is promoted by the Culture Department of Roma Capitale and by Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, which produces and organizes it, in co-organization with the Municipality of Mantua and in collaboration with The Sonnabend Collection Foundation of New York and Marsilio Arte.

The route follows the movements that Sonnabend accompanied, from Pop Art to Arte Povera, from Minimalism to Neo-Expressionism and Neo-Geo. The artists on view include Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Richard Serra, Jeff Koons and Luigi Ontani. Among the works cited by the source are «Figure 8» by Johns, «Wall Explosion II» by Lichtenstein, «Nine Jackies» by Warhol and «Kite» by Rauschenberg.

The core of the project is the dialogue Ileana Sonnabend built between the European and American art scenes. Born in Bucharest, she opened her Paris gallery in 1962, later expanded to Geneva and New York, and presented American artists to the European public while helping European protagonists establish themselves in New York. In 1957, when Leo Castelli, then her husband, opened his own New York gallery, she contributed decisively to the discovery of new artists.

The works come from the Sonnabend Collection Foundation and the Sonnabend Homem Collection, kept partly in Mantua and partly in New York, as well as from major public and private collections. The exhibition comes with a catalog edited by Codognato and published by Marsilio Arte, with texts by Giorgia Gastaldon, Mirta d'Argenzio and Eduardo Cicelyn.

Where to see Ileana Sonnabend: Palazzo Esposizioni Roma

Palazzo Esposizioni Roma is the building on Via Nazionale designed by Pio Piacentini and inaugurated on January 21, 1883. The facade is neoclassical, with a large central arch. Inside, the halls are arranged around a rotunda and receive natural light from above through iron and glass roofs. The 1981-1989 restoration is by Costantino Dardi.

The building belongs to the City of Rome and is managed by Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, established in 1998. For the exhibition, the official source indicates the piano nobile (main floor). Visitors to the building can also read the pages on Contiamo l'Italia, contiamo per il futuro and on Richard Avedon in the American West.

Practical information

• Period: from November 3, 2026 to April 4, 2027
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:00, entry until one hour before closing
• Venue: Palazzo Esposizioni Roma, Via Nazionale 194, 00184 Rome
• Curator: Mario Codognato, catalog by Marsilio Arte
• Tickets: the price is not published, sold from the official page indicated by Cultura Roma Capitale
• Contact: phone 06 696271, email info@palaexpo.it
• Official website: palazzoesposizioniroma.it
• Getting there: check the ATAC route planner

Ileana Sonnabend and Fireworks: frequently asked questions

How long is the Fireworks exhibition open?

Until April 4, 2027. It opens on November 3, 2026.

What are the opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:00, with entry allowed until one hour before closing.

How many works are on display?

54 works by 35 artists.

Who curates the exhibition?

Mario Codognato.

Who was Ileana Sonnabend?

A gallerist and collector born in Bucharest in 1914, who opened the Paris gallery in 1962 and helped spread Pop Art and Arte Povera internationally.

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