SOTTO/SOPRA. Arte Urbana: dalla strada al museo, andata e ritorno
Curated by Patrizia Cattaneo Moresi and Michelina Simona Eremita, the exhibition was created by the Santa Maria della Scala Museum Complex in Siena in collaboration with 24 ORE Cultura.
The project traces the evolution of street art, from its origins in tags and illegal graffiti on New York subway trains to its recognition as a global artistic phenomenon and one of the most significant expressions of contemporary art.
In recent years, this journey has led urban art to enter museums and galleries, gaining recognition in the art market while also influencing fashion, culture, and new visual languages.
Through a selection of works by some of the most representative artists of the contemporary European and international scene, the exhibition explores the richness of styles, techniques, and creative approaches that today coexist under the term “urban art.” Alongside major figures who have contributed to the global spread of the movement, such as Banksy, Obey, and JR, the exhibition highlights a new generation of artists who continue to redefine the boundaries between public space, visual research, and contemporary art.
Making the project even more significant is its dialogue with the exhibition spaces of Santa Maria della Scala, a recently restored historic complex, where the underground rooms overlooking the ancient medieval street create a striking parallel with the underground locations where street art originated: the New York subway tunnels of the 1970s.
19 June to 29 September 2024
Santa Maria della Scala Museum Complex
Piazza del Duomo, 1
Siena, Italy
Exhibition organised in collaboration with
Site-specific projects:
Damiano Mengozzi, Jacopo Pischedda, Madame, NeSpoon, Nian, Truly Design.