MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna (Modern Art Gallery)

Gallery in Bologna

The Bologna Museum of Modern Art, known as MAMbo, was established in 2007 and forms part of the Modern and Contemporary Art Area of the Musei Civici Bologna.

Housed in a converted bakery, the museum offers a comprehensive exploration of Italian art from the post-World War II era to the present day, with a constant focus on renewal. In addition to its permanent collection, MAMbo hosts extensive exhibitions dedicated to significant Italian and international artists. Since 2012, the museum has also served as a temporary venue for the Morandi Museum.

A recent addition to the museum is the section titled “Rilevamenti d’archivio. Le Settimane Internazionali della Performance e gli anni ’60 e ’70 a Bologna e in Emilia Romagna,” which documents the International Performance Art Weeks held between 1977 and 1982. The inaugural edition in 1977 featured notable artists such as Marina Abramović and Ulay, who presented their famous performance piece, Imponderabilia. In this thought-provoking work, the artists stood naked and faced each other at the museum entrance, compelling visitors to squeeze between them to gain access.

Among the remarkable works on display, Francesco Vezzoli’s Homage to the Hollywood Squares (featuring Bridget Riley) (2008) deserves special mention. This large square tapestry playfully reinterprets references to Bridget Riley’s Op Art and Anni Albers’ textile art, employing a medium that has always been prominent in Vezzoli’s work.

Within the Morandi Museum, visitors can appreciate Fiori (Flowers, 1950), a recurring subject throughout Giorgio Morandi’s artistic journey, wherein he progressively favored dried or silk flowers over natural ones. Additionally, Natura morta (still life) is also on display.

The Morandi Museum boasts the world’s most extensive public collection dedicated to Giorgio Morandi, featuring over 250 works, including paintings, watercolors, sketches, and etchings. The museum’s exhibition route delves into the themes and seasons of this celebrated twentieth-century artist’s oeuvre, cementing his status as one of the foremost international artists of his time.

MAMbo also houses an Education Department, fostering engagement and learning opportunities for visitors.

The MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna (Modern Art Gallery) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bologna!

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