Artissima 2025 Opens in Turin with Buckminster Fuller-Inspired Theme, Spotlighting Europe’s Avant-Garde Art Scene

Turin, Italy — Artissima, Italy’s foremost contemporary art fair, opened its doors on Friday at the Oval Lingotto Fiere, unveiling its 32nd edition under a theme inspired by visionary architect and theorist Buckminster Fuller. The fair, running from 31 October to 2 November, has drawn artists, curators, collectors, and enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond, eager to engage with cutting-edge works and critical discourse shaping the continent’s art landscape.

Founded in 1994, Artissima has established itself as a pivotal event in the European art calendar, renowned for its blend of commercial excellence and experimental spirit. This year’s theme, referencing Fuller’s holistic approach to design and sustainability, sets the tone for an edition that seeks to interrogate the intersection of art, technology, and society. The fair’s director, Luigi Fassi, described the programme as “a platform for dialogue between past innovation and future possibility,” reflecting Fuller’s enduring influence on creative thinking.

The 2025 edition features 176 galleries from Italy and around the world, presenting a diverse array of works that span painting, sculpture, installation, video, and performance. The fair’s structure comprises four flagship sections: Main Section, Monologue/Dialogue, New Entries, and Art Spaces & Editions. The Main Section hosts established galleries, offering a representative cross-section of the international art market. Monologue/Dialogue provides space for experimental presentations, including monographic projects and artist pairings, while New Entries introduces emerging galleries making their debut at Artissima. Art Spaces & Editions celebrates the world of multiples and editions, often supported by non-profit organisations and artist-run spaces.

Complementing these are three curated sections that have become hallmarks of Artissima’s commitment to research and discovery. Present Future spotlights artists under 40, selected for their innovative practices and capacity to reflect global trends. Back to the Future revisits the work of pioneering artists active from the 1940s to the 1990s, with a particular focus this year on themes of cybernetics, language, and human-machine interaction. Disegni is dedicated to drawing in its purest form, offering visitors a direct window into the creative process.

The fair’s influence extends beyond the exhibition halls, with special projects activating venues across Turin. Highlights include “The Screen is a Muscle” at Gallerie d’Italia – Torino, an exploration of moving image and bodily perception; Basim Magdy’s “New Acid” at Parco Michelotti, a posthuman film installation inviting audiences to reflect on the boundaries between animal and human experience; and site-specific works by Renato Leotta, Paul Pfeiffer, and Angharad Williams, which further animate the city’s cultural landscape.

Artissima’s reputation as a springboard for emerging talent is reinforced by its robust programme of awards and acquisitions. Thirteen prizes will be conferred during the fair, recognising excellence in artistic practice and curatorial innovation. Notably, a €300,000 acquisition fund supports the enrichment of public collections at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (GAM) and Castello di Rivoli, underlining the fair’s commitment to fostering creativity and access to contemporary art.

The fair’s interdisciplinary approach is exemplified by the IDENTITY 2025 initiative, which brings together artists and writers for collaborative projects and critical reflection. This year’s edition foregrounds the role of art as a catalyst for dialogue between disciplines, echoing Fuller’s belief in the interconnectedness of knowledge and the necessity of creative problem-solving.

Attendance at Artissima is expected to surpass previous years, with the event drawing a broad spectrum of visitors, from seasoned collectors and museum directors to students and newcomers. Organisers have emphasised accessibility, with reduced ticket prices for young people, seniors, and university students, as well as free entry for children under 12 and visitors with disabilities.

The fair’s location in Turin, a city with a rich industrial and artistic heritage, provides a fitting backdrop for an event that champions innovation while honouring tradition. The Lingotto Fiere complex, once a Fiat factory, now serves as a dynamic hub for cultural exchange, its transformation emblematic of the city’s ongoing evolution.

As Artissima 2025 unfolds, the influence of Buckminster Fuller’s legacy is palpable—not only in the thematic framing of the fair but in the spirit of inquiry and experimentation that animates its programme. Artists and audiences alike are invited to consider the possibilities of art as a tool for imagining new futures, forging connections across disciplines, and responding to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

With its expansive scope and commitment to critical engagement, Artissima 2025 reaffirms its status as a vital meeting point for contemporary art in Europe, offering a glimpse into the creative currents shaping the continent’s cultural landscape. As the fair continues through the weekend, Turin stands at the centre of the European art world, its galleries and streets alive with the energy of artistic exploration and exchange.