21Art Montecarlo is continuing its exhibition programme at its Mareterra gallery with a solo exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Pier Paolo Calzolari, a leading figure associated with the Arte Povera movement.

Opening to the public on Thursday 1st October, Pier Paolo Calzolari: Selected Works brings together select recent works from the artist at the gallery’s space on Quai du Petit Portier. Curated by Sergio Risaliti, the exhibition remains on display until 9 January 2027.

This exhibition comes after 21Art Montecarlo’s inaugural show dedicated to Belgian artist Jan Fabre, marking the next chapter in the gallery’s programme, following the opening of its first international location in Monaco earlier this year.

MATERIALS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

Born in Bologna in 1943, Calzolari has developed a practice spanning painting, sculpture, performance, sound, light, and architecture. The works presented in this exhibit were primarily produced in 2025, alongside several pieces from the recent past.

Central to Calzolari’s work is the use of materials, with natural and industrial elements seen throughout his work to explore their physical, sensory, and symbolic qualities. Throughout the exhibit, visitors may recognise salt, pigments, metal, and fire alongside everyday objects and organic materials like shells, feathers, and dried petals.

“For me, nothing is invisible; everything bears witness to itself by leaving a trace,” Calzolari explains.

Curator Sergio Risaliti describes the Monaco exhibition as a space where materials and objects move beyond representation, allowing nature, imagination, and human experience to interact with one another.

CALZOLARI’S RETURN TO MONACO

Throughout Calzolari’s career, he has exhibited internationally and participated in the Venice Biennale on three occasions, as well as Documenta IX in Kassel in 1992. His work has been exhibited at major venues in Paris, London, New York, and Nice, and is held in prominent public collections including the Guggenheim Museum, Centre Pompidou, and Art Institute of Chicago.

The exhibition also marks a return to the Principality for Calzolari following Casa Ideale, a retrospective presented at Villa Paloma in 2024.

Pier Paolo Calzolari: Selected Works will be on display at 21Art Montecarlo, 22 Quai du Petit Portier in Mareterra, from 1st October to 9th January 2027.

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Photo credit: Kayla Sauceda / Monaco Life