GRAFFITI AT MUSEION

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Bolzano-Bozen presented a pioneering exhibition on the relationship between graffiti and contemporary art. Curated by Leonie Radine and Ned Vena, the show will be the first in an Italian museum to explore the history of spray paint in art.

Spanning 1,500 square meters, it will bring together transdisciplinary works covering more than 70 years, revealing how the visual language of the street has entered the studio and transformed the perception of art.

The exhibition takes an innovative approach that goes beyond viewing graffiti as a marginal practice. Beginning with works from the 1950s and 1960s by artists such as Hedda Sterne, David Smith, Carol Rama, and Charlotte Posenenske, the journey progresses to spray paint on canvas pieces by iconic graffiti writers like Rammellzee, Futura 2000, Blade, and Lee Quiñones. Also included are works from the 1980s and 1990s scene, such as those by Lady Pink & Jenny Holzer, Martin Wong & LA2, and Keith Haring, leading up to more recent examples by Heike-Karin Föll, Michael Krebber, and Christopher Wool.

Spray paint, patented in the United States in 1951, underwent a period of artistic experimentation before becoming the essential tool of graffiti. During the 1950s and 1960s, visual artists used this technique, but in later decades, its use became intrinsically linked to urban aesthetics. The exhibition examines how a simple line of spray paint evokes associations with rebellion and the city, whether intentional or not.

Graffiti is structured into different segments that highlight its evolution. A key section explores its impact on the urban landscape with works by Kunle Martins, WANTO, and N.O.Madski, alongside sculptures by KAYA. Another part of the exhibition transforms into a representation of the city itself, incorporating photographs and films by Charles Atlas and Manuel DeLanda, as well as installations such as repurposed trash cans and junction boxes by Klara Lidén and Josephine Pryde’s miniature graffiti-covered train, New Media Express.

Graffiti as a method of marking territory is also reflected in R.I.P. Germain’s false storefront sculpture, a mural installation by Matias Faldbakken, and urban casts by Alix Vernet. Additionally, digital works by Georgie Nettell and a photogram of a bus shelter by Patricia L. Boyd interact with Karin Sander’s Patina Paintings, showcasing the diversity of contemporary approaches.

The exhibition inaugurates a new research project at Museion, focused on non-violent forms of resistance and art as a social and urban practice. Ned Vena, co-curator of the exhibition and an artist with a background in graffiti writing, emphasizes the importance of this perspective: “Graffiti was my way into becoming an artist, but it is also my way of seeing art. This exhibition is not just about graffiti but about works that, when I look at them, evoke my experiences with it.”

Graffiti will be on display until September 14, 2025, at MUSEION-Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Bolzano-Bozen, Piazza Piero Siena, 1, 39100 Bolzano (Italy).