Valentino's New Flagship Store Makes Space for Italian Art in Collaboration with Magazzino Italian Art

This November, Valentino opened its flagship store on 654 Madison Avenue in New York to present the latest luxurious and coveted pieces; simultaneously, revealing gallery walls adorned with contemporary Italian art. This collaboration with Magazzino Italian Art marks another remarkable achievement of the fashion house’s dialogue with the arts and an extension of the exhibition, Mario Schifano: The Rise of the ‘60s currently on view at the museum in Cold Spring, New York through 2024.

Featuring five stunning, large-scale paintings by renowned Italian Mario Schifano, the presentation exemplifies the seamless union of two companies deeply committed to cultivating a dynamic synergy between the art world and fashion.

Much like Schifano himself, who skillfully bridged the creative energies of Rome and New York, the exhibition serves as a vibrant conduit connecting Italy to the bustling heart of New York City. Schifano made his first prominent appearance in the exhibition Five Roman painters: Angeli, Festa, Lo Savio, Schifano, and Uncini in 1960 at the Galleria La Salita in Rome before coming to America and exhibiting at the Sidney Janis Gallery in New York "The New Realists" in the early 60s. He’s known to have rubbed elbows with memorable names such as Frank O’Hara, Jasper Johns, Rothko, Andy Warhol and Gregory Corso.

By way of painting and collaging, Schifano’s work are often monochromatic while using distinctive symbols and shapes. They are large-scale, emphasizing the “analysis of functions, customs, social roles, cultural and political contexts”. These themes Schifano is able to effortlessly portray in his work serve as the perfect vehicle to emphasizing that fashion and art do not exist in separate domains. There are now five stunning paintings spanning across the walls of Valentino in New York City.

The buzz around his work aligns with both Valentino’s intentions to create inclusiveness, uniqueness and creativity and Magazzino’s dedication as a research center to advancing contemporary Italian art in the United States. Along with works like Shifano’s, in the upcoming months, the flagship store will host engaging talks to further connect creative energies of Rome and New York.