17 June 2026 - 28 October 2026
The Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) in Shanghai will open Giorgio Morandi. Solo (乔治·莫兰迪:独白), marking both the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Morandi outside Italy and the first major retrospective of the artist in China. For decades, Maggiore g.a.m. has played an active role in promoting Morandi’s legacy and expanding his international presence; for this historic exhibition, the gallery has lent 30 works.
Developed in collaboration with the Morandi Museum of Bologna, MAMbo – Museum of Modern Art of Bologna, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Shanghai, the exhibition represents an important cultural dialogue between Italy and China, bringing to Asian audiences more than 140 works, including paintings, engravings, watercolors, and drawings that trace the entire creative journey of the Bolognese master.
Curated by Lorenzo Balbi, Director of MAMbo and the Morandi Museum, together with Francesco D’Arelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Shanghai, the exhibition brings together masterpieces rarely exhibited alongside works never before shown in China, original documents, archival materials, and objects belonging to the artist. It offers an in-depth exploration not only of Morandi’s artistic production but also of his working methods and the cultural context in which his research evolved.
The exhibition unfolds across 35 sections, guiding visitors through all the themes and techniques that defined Morandi’s oeuvre: from the celebrated still lifes of the 1920s to the increasingly rarefied landscapes of his later years, as well as his engravings, drawings, and watercolors. This exceptional selection, remarkable for both its quality and historical significance, reaffirms Morandi’s central role in the history of twentieth-century art.
Although Giorgio Morandi spent most of his life in Bologna, working within the intimate space of his Via Fondazza studio and among the landscapes of Grizzana, his artistic legacy has long transcended national borders. Today he is internationally recognized as one of the defining figures of modern art, admired for his ability to transform ordinary subjects into profound meditations on space, time, silence, and perception. Through an essential and unmistakable visual language, Morandi developed a body of work that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences and inspire artists around the world.
Among the highlights of the exhibition are Morandi’s original etching press, presented outside Bologna for the first time, photographs by Gianni Berengo Gardin documenting the artist’s studios, a film specially commissioned for the exhibition by director Germano Maccioni, and an unprecedented dialogue with contemporary art through a work by Tacita Dean.
Within this extraordinary international project, Maggiore g.a.m. is pleased to have contributed through the loan of 30 artworks, which form part of one of the most important exhibitions ever dedicated to Giorgio Morandi. The gallery’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting and enhancing the international appreciation of Morandi’s work, contributing to an exhibition destined to become a landmark moment in the artist’s reception across Asia.
With its unprecedented scale, Giorgio Morandi. Solo stands not only as the largest exhibition ever devoted to the artist outside Italy, but also as a significant cultural bridge between Bologna and Shanghai, connecting the richness of Italian artistic heritage with the dynamic contemporary cultural landscape of China.
