Metropoli

Exhibition Opening
Metropoli
Visionary Architecture from Futurism to Rationalism

Works from
Fondazione Massimo e Sonia Cirulli, Bologna

Conceived by
Ara H. Merjian, NYU

Curated by
Ara H. Merjian, NYU
Nicola Lucchi, Magazzino Italian Art Museum

On view through February 7, 2024
Mon-Fri 10-6

“Metropoli: Visionary Architecture from Futurism to Rationalism” explores the radical architectural visions born from Futurism and Italian Rationalism, movements that shaped modern urban imagination in Italy. Beginning with the explosive ideals of F.T. Marinetti’s Futurist manifesto in 1909, which celebrated the energy of modern cities, the exhibition traces how Futurists envisioned dynamic, transformative urban spaces as a break from Italy’s agrarian landscape. During the 1920s and 1930s, the modernist ambition of young architects close to Italian Rationalism came to clash with the Fascist regime’s aesthetic priorities, which left some space for experimentation but also stifled much of their innovation. To this day, this architectural legacy—both real and imagined—shapes our vision and reading of Italy’s urban spaces.