Today, Thursday 17 September, Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci presented Lorenza Longhi. Villa Delizia to the press. Curated by Michele Bertolino, the exhibition is the artist’s first solo show at an Italian institution.
Speakers at the press conference included:
Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, President of Fondazione per le Arti Contemporanee in Toscana; Gabriella Farsi, Director of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Institutions, Cultural Activities and Sport of the Tuscany Region; Ilaria Santi, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Prato; Stefano Collicelli Cagol, General Director of Centro Pecci; Michele Bertolino, curator of the exhibition; and Lorenza Longhi.
The exhibition explores the construction of desire and the circulation of objects in contemporary society. The artist observes everyday life and, through consumer goods – designer furniture, fabrics and trimmings – reveals the ways in which objects are displayed and consumed. Installed in the Nio Wing, Villa Delizia transforms the exhibition space by intervening in its architectural elements, from the circular skylights in the ceiling to Centro Pecci’s historic sofas. Trimmings, seating, cushions, a portal and window films create an enveloping environment in which the exhibition design becomes an integral part of the work, directing the audience’s gaze.
The project also grew out of the artist’s dialogue with Prato and its textile district. For the large canvases created specifically for the exhibition, Longhi selected and combined fabrics from local manufacturers and companies, applying screen prints and flocking to their surfaces. Removed from their original functions, these materials are recomposed to make visible what usually remains hidden within production processes and the construction of taste.
The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue Opera d’arte nella Villa Delizia, published by Mousse Publishing, with contributions by Marta Franceschini, Alice Motard, Giorgio Motisi and Michele Bertolino. Over the coming months, the project will also be complemented by a programme of activities and special guided tours designed to explore Lorenza Longhi’s work through different perspectives and languages.
Opening
The exhibition will open on Friday 18 September with an evening free and open to all. VILLA DELIZIA can be visited from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, with guided tours from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. From 9:00 PM, the evening will continue until midnight with a DJ set by Francesco Romagnoli.
Visit the exhibition
Lorenza Longhi. Villa Delizia will be open from 19 September 2026 to 10 January 2027, Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The ticket office closes at 6:30 PM. Tickets to visit the exhibition can be purchased online.
Sponsor: Cellerese
Technical sponsors: Floccatura Balmar, Cangioli 1859, Tessilfibre