From February 6th to 16th, 2025, Bologna will become the center of contemporary art once again. Art City is back, an event that, like every year, takes place in parallel with the famous Arte Fiera, creating an atmosphere of discovery, inspiration, and connection that transcends the boundaries of galleries. With a rich program of exhibitions, installations, and performances, Art City is an invitation to explore the city from a new point of view.

New for this year: the Special Program

One of the most interesting new features of this edition is the Special Program, which pays homage to the ten historic Gates of Bologna. Each gate becomes the protagonist of a work or artistic intervention, creating an evocative journey that runs through the heart of the city. The itinerary starts with Porta Mascarella and winds its way to Porta Galliera, passing through Porta San Donato and the others, making the connection between past and present tangible.

Enhancing this unique experience is the BARK performance by Derek MF Di Fabio, which combines visual art and music in a collective bike ride. A group of queer people will ride along the route of the gates, creating a narrative between the artistic installations.
Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in one of the bus tours of the gates, on February 8th, 9th, 15th, and 16th, for a duration of two and a half hours.

The must-see exhibitions

Among the most fascinating exhibitions of Art City 2025, there are some not to be missed. Here are some of them:

“Nino Migliori, My Jewels” at the Civic Archaeological Museum. Until February 10th, you can attend an unusual exhibition that highlights a new side of the master of photography, with a selection of his jewelry.

“Silvia Bächli. Before at the Morandi Museum”. Bächli’s abstract art is intertwined with the legacy of Giorgio Morandi, creating a dialogue between the two artistic worlds. You can visit it until March 30th.

“Alessandra Spranzi. Who Seeks Only His Beauty, in the Manner Herein Described”. Until March 16th, 2025, at Casa Morandi, this exhibition will explore the reuse of photographic images through collage and photography of photographs.

“Carol Rama. Unique Multiples” at Villa delle Rose, until March 30th, 2025, presents a selection of multiples produced by the famous artist, offering a reflection on the value of accessible art.

“Valeria Magli. MORBID”, at MAMbo. Until May 11th, 2025, the concept of femininity is explored through dance and choreography, exploring the nuances of body and movement.

“Easy Irony. Irony in Italian Art between the 20th and 21st Centuries” at MAMbo. This exhibition, which can be visited until September 7th, 2025, with more than 100 works by over 70 artists, traces the history of Italian art from the post-war period to today, recounting the power of irony as a creative language.

“Alessandro Roma. Dressing the Landscape” at the Civic Medieval Museum. Until March 2nd, 2025, this exhibition explores the relationship between body and environment, through installations that reflect on the individual’s interaction with the surrounding landscape.

“Christian Fogarolli. Ethereal Body” at the Civic Museum of Industrial Art and Davia Bargellini Gallery. Until February 16th, 2025, it offers a fascinating reflection on daily life and everyday objects, leading the visitor to question our relationship with industrial art.

“Alex Trusty. Contemporary Museum Watching” at the Collezioni Comunali d’Arte. Until February 16th, 2024, the exhibition gathers over 50 photographs that portray the public in front of works of art, creating a link between those who observe and what is observed.

“Rio Ari O. Luca Carboni, 40 Years Between Music and Art” at the International Museum and Music Library. Until February 9th, 2025, the exhibition celebrates the connection between music and visual art, through drawings, sketches, and paintings related to the albums of the famous Bolognese singer-songwriter.

Art City Bologna is an unmissable opportunity to experience the city in a different way, immersing yourself in its rich cultural offerings. Each exhibition, each performance, and each event is an invitation to reflect on beauty, transformation, and the encounter between past and present.

If you are in Bologna these days, don’t miss the opportunity to participate in Art City!