Towards Arte Fiera: The Voice of the Gallerists
Alessia Calarota is the director of the Via D’Azeglio location of Galleria d’Arte Maggiore g.a.m.
How would you define your gallery?
“We are characterized by a dialogue between historically established artists and contemporary voices, aimed at building genuine cultural content. We have also worked strategically on the promotion of artists such as Giorgio Morandi and Giorgio de Chirico, introducing them to new markets, including Asia, and now Massimo Campigli, Giosetta Fioroni and Mattia Moreni."
What are the guiding principles of your gallery, its areas of research and interest?
“We were born as a meeting place for curators, artists and collectors; this dialogue has also expanded into the relationship between modern and contemporary art.”
What do you think of the art system in Bologna, between public and private sectors? Where does the city stand in the Italian landscape?
“It is a virtuous model of collaboration between public institutions and private initiatives which—whether through foundations or by supporting individual events—help create a dynamic cultural offering. It is a city of excellence, with institutions such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the Cineteca, and above all the Alma Mater.”
More generally, how is the art market doing in Italy and therefore in Bologna?
“After the downturn of 2019, it is now growing again thanks to passionate collectors. I say: ‘Don’t be afraid to enter a gallery and ask questions.’ The gallery is culture on street corners; we are here to guide people along this exciting path.”
What do you expect from the upcoming Arte Fiera with its new artistic director, and from Art City? Will you be participating?
“There are excellent premises; I am confident in the new direction under Davide Ferri.”
Will you present any specific projects during those days, at the fair or in the gallery?
“We are happy to return to exhibiting at the fair. We will participate in Art City with an unpublished exhibition dedicated to Giosetta Fioroni, and then the presentation of Mattia Moreni alongside the exhibition of John Giorno, both at MAMbo.”
What is the role of the gallery in today’s art system?
“I like to think it is always the same: to promote art, disseminate it, and support collectors in their choices.”
So who actually shapes the market? Fairs, auctions, galleries, the internet, collectors?
“The market exists and functions when a virtuous circle is established, in which each actor plays their role: artists focused on producing works, galleries that promote them and nourish the system, passionate collectors who invest, and museums and foundations that consolidate the cultural value of artists above all.”
Is Bologna still attractive for the art world? Can it improve, and how?
“Art must be a legacy and a secure value: I believe it is essential to invest in the education of new collectors.”
How do you judge new operators entering the market, such as auction houses or online platforms?
“The internet is a great communication window for art, but the experience is not physical; it becomes a place of sale only when there is already mutual knowledge. Auction houses are competitors mainly for fairs and somewhat distort market values."
Arte Fiera was the first such event in Italy; twenty years later Artissima in Turin and Miart in Milan arrived and gained significant ground.
"With my parents I experienced the golden age of Arte Fiera, but then the international leap was missed; it rested on its laurels and did not innovate. Menegoi did very well with contemporary art, less so with modern art. He was good at bringing collectors back: if a fair sells, everyone shows up. We are returning for Davide Ferri, who has a strong overall vision.”
TO KNOW
- Galleria d’Arte Maggiore g.a.m. was founded in 1978 in Bologna by Franco and Roberta Calarota. In 2009 their daughter Alessia joined and is now director of the Via D’Azeglio space, located in the building that houses the Lucio Dalla Foundation. The gallery is also active in Venice with the Calarota Foundation at ACP–Palazzo Franchetti on the Grand Canal, and in Paris with an exhibition space opened in 2024 at 208 Boulevard Saint-Germain.
- The gallery has always promoted dialogue between modern and contemporary art through intergenerational exchanges, combining art, design, architecture, fashion, literature and cinema in an interdisciplinary way.
- The gallery operates along two main axes: the art market and institutional collaboration.
The Interviews – Eleven Questions
In view of Arte Fiera 2026, scheduled in the city from February 6 to 8 (together with Art City initiatives), we present a series of interviews with Bologna-based gallerists addressing themes related to the city’s art system, the role of galleries, expectations for the upcoming fair, and the artistic proposals that will be presented during those days. The first nine questions will be identical for everyone; the last two will be open-ended.
