On Friday, October 23, on Via dei Banchi Vecchi, a sculptor will be carving a block of wood right on the sidewalk from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can stop and watch for as long as you like—no ticket required. It’s one of the events during Rome Art Week, which runs from Monday, October 19, through Sunday, October 25, featuring 150 galleries and institutions throughout the city.
There are no tickets—it’s free by regulation
“Free here” is not a promotion. Rome Art Week does not include events with an admission fee in its program, nor does it pay the exhibitors. It has been organized since 2016 by Kou, a nonprofit association.
This year’s official image is a package of fresh produce, like the ones you find at the supermarket, with the words “contains fresh contemporary art.” It’s as if to say: consume it right away—and without spending a single euro.
From the Pope as a meme to the Salone Borromini
The program takes you where you least expect it. In Borgo Santo Spirito, just a stone’s throw from St. Peter’s, “Pope Art” portrays the Pope as a pop icon through posters, comics, and memes. At the Vallicelliana Library in Piazza della Chiesa Nuova, Juanni Wang’s paintings are on display in the Salone Borromini through Friday, October 23.
At the Grand Mosque, on Monday, October 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the organizers are presenting what they describe as the largest exhibition of Egyptian and Arab artists ever seen at RAW. And at Gallery Morphè, there are previously unseen works by Leonardo Crudi and Elia Novecento—two names that anyone who wanders around Rome has already encountered on the city’s walls.
Seven days, seven locations
- Monday, October 19 – Albergotti Auditorium (Via Francesco Albergotti, Pineto area). The opening night, “85 Seconds, ” from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The easiest way to get a feel for what’s going on.
- Tuesday, October 20 – Fondazione VOLUME! (Via San Francesco di Sales 86, Trastevere). Guided tours at 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in a space that has been transformed over the years by artists’ interventions. Reservations required.
- Wednesday, October 21 – Takeawaygallery (Via dei Narcisi 21, Centocelle). Reopening after a nearly two-year hiatus at a new location in East Rome. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22 – Caprioli Architetti (Via Saturnia 43). Jerico Cabrera Carandang will paint a large curved stained-glass window live. From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 23 – Banchi 141 (Via dei Banchi Vecchi 141). Paolo Frattari will be sculpting on the sidewalk in front of the space hosting Japanese artist Mami Kawai. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24 – Sottocorrente (Via Ostiense 177). Closing night for Fabrizio Intonti’s “Insert Coin,” featuring photographs and neon sculptures. From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25 – Kromart Gallery (Via Biagio Pallai 12). Sit down and have your portrait taken with a view camera, then head into the darkroom. From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Where to start if you “don’t understand a thing”
It’s a question everyone asks, and that’s why “Punti di Vista” exists: critics and curators highlighting what to see. This year, Claudio Strinati is among them. On the website, each event shows how many recommendations it has received; the exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of Galleria 291 Est, in San Lorenzo, is currently among the most mentioned.
Another option is the open studios. You step into the artist’s workspace and ask questions directly of the creator: among Rome’s free art exhibitions, this is the least intimidating format there is.
