Exhibitions

Celebrating Mimmo Rotella with New Exhibition in Nice

IARLA BYRNE7 June, 20262 Mins read164

Twenty years after his death, Mimmo Rotella remains one of the most innovative and influential figures of 20th-century art.

Celebrated for transforming everyday urban imagery into powerful artistic statements, Rotella’s legacy continues to inspire generations of artists around the world.

After graduating from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Naples, Rotella settled in Rome in 1945, where he began a period of intense artistic experimentation. His breakthrough came in 1953, when he experienced what he later described as a genuine “Zen illumination”: the discovery of advertising posters as a new artistic medium.

This revelation led to the creation of his signature technique, décollage. Unlike collage, which is based on adding materials together, décollage is an art of subtraction. Rotella removed posters from city walls, reassembled them in his studio, and then tore, cut, and manipulated them before mounting them onto canvas, wood, or metal. Through these layered surfaces, he captured the energy, chaos, and visual language of modern urban life.

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International Recognition

Rotella’s pioneering work quickly earned international acclaim. Today, his pieces are housed in some of the world’s most prestigious museums and collections, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Throughout his career, he participated in major international exhibitions, including the 1964 Venice Biennale. In 1960, he became a member of the Nouveau Réalisme movement, founded by influential art critic Pierre Restany. The movement brought together groundbreaking artists such as Yves Klein, Jean Tinguely, Arman, César, Christo, Daniel Spoerri, and Niki de Saint Phalle, all united by a desire to reinterpret reality through contemporary artistic practices.

“Mimmo Rotella & Friends” in Nice

The upcoming exhibition Mimmo Rotella & Friends at NEO Art & Culture Lab x VogelART in Nice, offers a vibrant tribute to the Italian master. Curated by internationally acclaimed artist Gregor Hildebrandt, represented by the prestigious Almine Rech and Perrotin galleries and a long-time admirer of Rotella’s work, the exhibition explores the enduring relevance of his artistic vision.

Mimmo Rotello & Friends expo in Nice - poster

Rather than presenting a traditional retrospective, the exhibition creates a dynamic conversation between Rotella’s works and those of fourteen internationally renowned contemporary artists. Each artist engages with Rotella’s legacy in a unique way – embracing, reinterpreting, or critically examining the ideas that shaped his practice.

At the heart of the exhibition are Rotella’s iconic décollages, which serve as a starting point for a broader exploration of artistic influence and creative evolution. The result is a compelling dialogue between past and present, demonstrating how Rotella’s innovations continue to resonate within contemporary visual culture.

An Enduring Legacy

Mimmo Rotella & Friends is more than a tribute to a historic figure; it is a living testament to the lasting impact of his work. By bringing together artists from different generations and perspectives, the exhibition highlights the continuing relevance of Rotella’s artistic language and its ability to inspire new forms of expression.

Organised in close collaboration with the Rotella family, the exhibition is particularly fittingly staged in Nice, a city with which the artist shared a special connection. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to rediscover a visionary whose influence continues to shape the contemporary art world.

Featured Artists

Mimmo Rotella and Barbara Kruger, Bertrand Lavier, Daniele Buetti, Felix Schramm, Francesco Vezzoli, Friedemann Hahn, Gregor Hildebrandt, Isa Genzken, John Baldessari, JR, Katharina Grosse, Lothar Hempel, Rosemarie Trockel, Sissi Farassat