Tornabuoni Art

Created in Florence in 1981 by Roberto Casamonti, Tornabuoni Art has established itself as a leading gallery for Post-War Italian art, with famous artists as Burri, Fontana, Castellani, Boetti and Bonalumi. It also presents artists of the Novecento, as well as International 20th century avant-garde masters, such as Picasso, Mirò, Poliakoff and Basquiat. In the past decades, it has confirmed and extend its influence by opening 5 additional exhibition spaces: Crans Montana in 1993, Milan in 1995, Forte Dei Marmi in 2004, Paris in 2009 and London in 2015. The two last galleries were created by Roberto’s son, Michele Casamonti.

Tornabuoni Art

Created in Florence in 1981 by Roberto Casamonti, Tornabuoni Art has established itself as a leading gallery for Post-War Italian art, with famous artists as Burri, Fontana, Castellani, Boetti and Bonalumi. It also presents artists of the Novecento, as well as International 20th century avant-garde masters, such as Picasso, Mirò, Poliakoff and Basquiat. In the past decades, it has confirmed and extend its influence by opening 5 additional exhibition spaces: Crans Montana in 1993, Milan in 1995, Forte Dei Marmi in 2004, Paris in 2009 and London in 2015. The two last galleries were created by Roberto’s son, Michele Casamonti.

Modern Art

16 Avenue Matignon
75008 Paris, FR
+33 1 53 53 51 51
info@tornabuoniart.fr

Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 3
Firenze – 50125, Italy
+39 055 681 2697
info@tornabuoniarte.it

Via Fatebenefratelli 34/36
Milano – 20121, Italy
+39 02 655 4841
milano@tornabuoniarte.it

Piazza Marconi 2
Forte dei Marmi – 55042 Italy
+39 0584 787030
fortedeimarmi@tornabuoniarte.it

Rue Centrale, 5
3963, Crans Montana, Switzerland
+41 27 481 20 50
crans@tornabuoniart.com

Mazzoleni - Alberto Burri
Art Basel 2019

Tornabuoni Art

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Interview with Francesca Piccolboni ~ Paris Director

Luigi Mazzoleni

Francesca Piccolboni, Director of the Parisian gallery, 2019

Interview by Pauline Loeb-Obrenan, founder of artfairmag.

Tornabuoni participates in major international art fairs such as FIAC in Paris, TEFAF in Maastricht and New York, Art Basel, Art Basel in Miami and Hong Kong, Arte Fiera in Bologna, miart in Milan, Frieze Masters in London, or artgenève in Geneva. I spoke with Francesca Piccolboni the director, director of the London gallery, about Tornabuoni Art and its relationship with art fairs.

artfairmag: Tornabuoni Art participates in many major art fairs as the three editions of Art Basel, TEFAF, FIAC, Frieze, Masterpiece, La Biennale Paris, artmonte-carlo, miart, etc. Do you approach all of them the same way or do you have to adapt according to each fair’s DNA?

Francesca Piccolboni: The gallery participates in 19 art fairs, 5 in Italy and 13 abroad. We take part into these initiatives always showing our identity, putting at the centre of our booths a focus on the Post War Italian Art with a particular attention to the artists that we have been representing from different years such as Fontana, Boetti, Burri, Castellani and Scheggi. Although, we tend to shape our program from fair to fair, for example, in the last 6 years, in Basel we have been presenting monographic stand. We use the art fairs as an opportunity to show the research made by our gallery through solo-artist focus (Scheggi, Scarpitta, Fontana, Burri, Boetti). These types of projects are difficult to realize and they require a work that starts 24/ 12 months before the fair. Moreover, these projects are quite always accompanied by a specific catalogue that we realize together with international curators and artists’ foundations.

At TEFAF New York and Maastricht we tend to give more importance to the Italian Art belonging to the first half of the twentieth century, presenting artists such as de Chirico, Morandi, Severini, and Balla. At FIAC in Paris and Frieze Masters in London – being these fairs based in those cities where Tornabuoni Art has its own galleries – we pay attention to make strong connections between the works show at the booth and those included in the exhibitions of our galleries.

artfairmag: As mentioned, Tornabuoni Art today participates in most of the top art fairs but this was not the case before 2010. Is this evolution related to the changing expectations of collectors and the way they buy art?

F. P.: In the last 10 years, the gallery has been participating in the most important international art fairs. The art world has changed and today would be impossible to develop our gallery activity without the fairs. This latter aspect has acquired more significance than in the early 2000s. The fairs are unique occasions where the collectors can meet in a concentrated time and defined space a wide cultural offer. Visiting more than 100 galleries – as the ones that are generally present in an art fair – would require weeks. Thus, it is normal that the fair will remain a useful tool for the market. Nevertheless, the fair enables to establish only quick relationships with the gallerists, especially during the vernissages. A relationship characterised by more quality and a deep knowledge requires to be developed in different ways.

“The art world has changed and today would be impossible to develop our gallery activity without the fairs.”

artfairmag: Tornabuoni has a reputation for showcasing world famous Italian artists like Fontana or Burri, but it also represents others, less known by the public, as the Arte Povera master Alighiero Boetti. Are fairs an opportunity to highlight them and to get their work more widely known?

F. P.: I think that exists a certain boredom in seeing many fairs with stands that are more or less the same. It is necessary to amaze. Until 10 years ago, there was a common idea to present curatorial exhibitions in the galleries and group shows at the fairs, showing a miscellaneous offer following the (wrong) idea of selling more. Tornabuoni Art has been among the first gallery to be convinced of the opposite. It is particularly useful to present at the fairs cultural projects that do not only have a focus on a single artist, but also on a single type of artwork made by the artist, as we did, for example with the “Fine di Dio” by Lucio Fontana, the “Combustioni plastiche” and the “Mappe” by Boetti. This approch has bring back an incredible interest towards the gallery.

artfairmag: With its 6 exhibition spaces, all located in Europe, Tornabuoni Art is continuously developing. Are you planning to expand in Asia and America or is your participation in art fairs sufficient to build up a clientele there?

F. P.: The art world has been always united and some international galleries have decided to act, increasing their spaces in Asia and America. It is a type of strategy that only a half a dozen of galleries have been able to implement, establishing themselves in North Europe, North America and Asia. Tornabuoni Art is present in four different European countries that are Italy, France, Switzerland and United Kingdom and I do not think that in the next future we will open other galleries in Asia and America. Our way to be present in a global market is creating events even outside our galleries in collaboration with institutions and museums.

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🎙️In Conversation With: @camille_morineau, founder of the AWARE Foundation, short for Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitons @awarewomenart.
We talked about the new ‘Modern Women’ section she has curated for the upcoming Frieze Masters @friezeofficial.
Thank you Camille for this very interesting discussion and looking forward to visiting the fair!
@followaginger 

#artfairmag #artfair #womenartist #womenartists #modernart #friezemasters #frieze #femaleartist #femaleartists #friezelondon #arttalk #arttalks

🎙️In Conversation With: @camille_morineau, founder of the AWARE Foundation, short for Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitons @awarewomenart.
We talked about the new ‘Modern Women’ section she has curated for the upcoming Frieze Masters @friezeofficial.
Thank you Camille for this very interesting discussion and looking forward to visiting the fair!
@followaginger

#artfairmag #artfair #womenartist #womenartists #modernart #friezemasters #frieze #femaleartist #femaleartists #friezelondon #arttalk #arttalks
...

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💫 Booth in the spotlight: @candida_stevens at the @britishartfair 2023. While visiting the fair for the very first time, I came across the booth of Candida Stevens and I’ve appreciated very much its consistency. She presents the work of 4 female artists with different styles and yet United around the theme of nature. Well done Candida!
1. Kerry Harding @kerryharding_art 
2. Pippa Blake @pippablake 
3. Katharine Le Hardy @katharinelehardy 
4. Celia Cook @celiacookstudio 

#artfairmag #artfair #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #modernart #emergingartist #artcollector

💫 Booth in the spotlight: @candida_stevens at the @britishartfair 2023. While visiting the fair for the very first time, I came across the booth of Candida Stevens and I’ve appreciated very much its consistency. She presents the work of 4 female artists with different styles and yet United around the theme of nature. Well done Candida!
1. Kerry Harding @kerryharding_art
2. Pippa Blake @pippablake
3. Katharine Le Hardy @katharinelehardy
4. Celia Cook @celiacookstudio

#artfairmag #artfair #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #modernart #emergingartist #artcollector
...

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✨Follow Pauline at the @britishartfair 2023. I finally had the chance to visit this fair, which I’d heard so much about. 70 dealers from London and all over the UK are gathered at the Saatchi Gallery to present a fine cross-section of British art. Lots of paintings but not only! A nice venue for a nice art fair that you can visit until this Sunday evening. 

#artfairmag #artfair #britishartfair #saatchigallery #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #modernart #followpauline #artlovers #artlover #londonexhibition

✨Follow Pauline at the @britishartfair 2023. I finally had the chance to visit this fair, which I’d heard so much about. 70 dealers from London and all over the UK are gathered at the Saatchi Gallery to present a fine cross-section of British art. Lots of paintings but not only! A nice venue for a nice art fair that you can visit until this Sunday evening.

#artfairmag #artfair #britishartfair #saatchigallery #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #modernart #followpauline #artlovers #artlover #londonexhibition
...

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🎥 1 minute in the booth: @eleventhhour_art at @affordableartfairnyc 2023. Founder Lindsey Acree presents a realistic painting by @artbygingersnow.

#artfairmag #artfair #affordableartfair #affordableartfairny #affordableart #figurativepainting #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #artgallery #realisticart

🎥 1 minute in the booth: @eleventhhour_art at @affordableartfairnyc 2023. Founder Lindsey Acree presents a realistic painting by @artbygingersnow.

#artfairmag #artfair #affordableartfair #affordableartfairny #affordableart #figurativepainting #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #artgallery #realisticart
...

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🗓️ Preparing the exciting month of October! Here are the fairs where you’ll soon see me:
✔️Frieze London & Frieze Masters
11-15 October 2023, London
@friezeofficial 
✔️1-54 London
12-15 October 2023, London
@154artfair
✔️ Paris+ par Art Basel
18-22 October 2023, Paris
@artbasel 
✔️ AKAA
19-22 October 2023, Paris
@akaa_fair 
✔️Design Miami/ Paris
17-19 October
@designmiami 

FIY: and here some other fairs occurring in October:
➖The Decorative Fair
3-8 October, London
@decorativefair 
➖ART The Hague
4-8 October
@artthehague 
➖FOCUS London
4-7 October
@focusartfair 
➖SWAB Barcelona
5-8 October
@swabartfair 
➖Affordable Art Fair
5-8 October, Stockholm
@affordableartfairsthlm 
➖Art On Paper
5-8 October, Brussels
@artonpaperbrussels 
➖PAD London
10-15 October
@padesignart 
➖StART Art Fair
11-15 October, London
@start.art.global 
➖REA! Art Fair
12-15 October, Milan
@rea.fair 
➖Paris Internationale
18-19 October
@aaaahhhparisinternationale 
➖Highlights Munich
18-22 October
@munichhighlights 
➖Moderne Art Fair
19-22 October, Paris
@moderneartfair 
➖Art Taipei
20-23 October
@arttaipei 
➖ASIA Now
20-22 October, Paris
@asianow 
➖Art Shopping
20-22 October, Paris
@artshoppingofficiel 
➖Art Collaboration Kyoto
28-30 October
@artcollaborationkyoto

💥 Find info about all art fairs around the world on our global calendar, on artfairmag.com!

#artfairmag #artfair #artfairs #artbasel #frieze #1-54 #friezemasters #paulineloeb #followpauline #artlover #artlovers #globetrotter #artexpert #artcurator

🗓️ Preparing the exciting month of October! Here are the fairs where you’ll soon see me:
✔️Frieze London & Frieze Masters
11-15 October 2023, London
@friezeofficial
✔️1-54 London
12-15 October 2023, London
@154artfair
✔️ Paris+ par Art Basel
18-22 October 2023, Paris
@artbasel
✔️ AKAA
19-22 October 2023, Paris
@akaa_fair
✔️Design Miami/ Paris
17-19 October
@designmiami

FIY: and here some other fairs occurring in October:
➖The Decorative Fair
3-8 October, London
@decorativefair
➖ART The Hague
4-8 October
@artthehague
➖FOCUS London
4-7 October
@focusartfair
➖SWAB Barcelona
5-8 October
@swabartfair
➖Affordable Art Fair
5-8 October, Stockholm
@affordableartfairsthlm
➖Art On Paper
5-8 October, Brussels
@artonpaperbrussels
➖PAD London
10-15 October
@padesignart
➖StART Art Fair
11-15 October, London
@start.art.global
➖REA! Art Fair
12-15 October, Milan
@rea.fair
➖Paris Internationale
18-19 October
@aaaahhhparisinternationale
➖Highlights Munich
18-22 October
@munichhighlights
➖Moderne Art Fair
19-22 October, Paris
@moderneartfair
➖Art Taipei
20-23 October
@arttaipei
➖ASIA Now
20-22 October, Paris
@asianow
➖Art Shopping
20-22 October, Paris
@artshoppingofficiel
➖Art Collaboration Kyoto
28-30 October
@artcollaborationkyoto

💥 Find info about all art fairs around the world on our global calendar, on artfairmag.com!

#artfairmag #artfair #artfairs #artbasel #frieze #1-54 #friezemasters #paulineloeb #followpauline #artlover #artlovers #globetrotter #artexpert #artcurator
...

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🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.

#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram

🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.

#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram
...

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🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.

#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday

🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.

#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday
...

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🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.

#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator

🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.

#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator
...

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🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.

#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday

🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.

#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday
...

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✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand 

#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline

✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand

#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline
...

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📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco 
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates

#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator

📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates

#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator
...

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1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.

#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist

1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.

#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist
...

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