The Top Galleries for Contemporary Design in Rome

Rome may house some of the oldest art in civilized history, but it is also a hotbed for a surprising number of institutions for contemporary design. In Rome, if you are keen to soak up the postmodern art scene, you definitely need to pay these institutions a visit.

MAXXI

The National Museum of 21st Century Arts, also known as MAXXI, or the Museo Nazionale delle arti del XXI Secolo, is Rome’s first ever national museum for contemporary art. MAXXI’s spacious interior and soft curves are a stark contrast to its roots as a military barracks. It is now one of the most prominent centres for contemporary design in Rome and should be first on your list of destinations to see during your visit to the city.

Galleria Marie-Laure Fleisch

The Marie-Laure Fleisch Gallery is one of the more creative exhibitions, as it uses one of the world’s oldest and most revered mediums for artistic expression – paper. You can find quite the creative collection of exhibits that make full use of the many unique properties of paper – making it a must-see for the artistically inclined. Just make sure not to light up while inside the gallery – you wouldn’t want to burn the whole exhibit to the ground with a stray ember!

Chiostro del Bramante

The Chiostro del Bramante is the perfect fusion of Renaissance architecture and contemporary design in Rome. Its beautifully renovated cloister provides a great backdrop for many art exhibits and live performances, so it is always worth keeping an eye on the local schedule.

Ermanno Tedeschi Gallery

Ermanno Tedeschi founded this gallery in 2011 with the express purpose of bringing together Italian, Israeli and European art into one easily accessible exhibit. This marriage of the three art scenes can open up your eyes to unique viewpoints that would have been ignored if not for all three styles being brought together here. The gallery is by appointment only, so make arrangements before visiting.

Furini

The Furini Arte Contemporanea Gallery is a hub for contemporary design in Rome designed specifically for budding artists who want to showcase their art to the world. This is the place to go to if you want to breathe in fresh perspectives from Italy’s youth, which can enlighten you on what thoughts and styles the next generation of artists are gravitating to.

Frutta

This is a gallery brought to life by a relative newcomer on the contemporary art scene – James Gardner. It is unique in that it uses not just the exhibits but also the space inside the gallery as well. The art pieces are arranged in such a way that they interact playfully (and quite efficiently) with the three-dimensional space of the gallery, which is why it warrants special mention in this list.