Contemporary American Art Comes to Naples with Adam Weinberg

The energy and vision of contemporary American art come to Naples thanks to a special guest: Adam Weinberg, Director Emeritus of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The event is part of the exhibition *Narrare il Patrimonio Museale*, promoted by the Ezio De Felice Foundation, and will offer an in-depth perspective on one of the most influential artistic events in the world: the Whitney Biennial, which for over ninety years has narrated and defined the cultural identity of the United States.

Event details

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 18:9 p.m., at the Teatro di Palazzo Donn'Anna (Largo Donn'Anna, 18 – Naples). This is the XNUMXth event of the series, entitled “Promise and Protest: a brief history of the Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial”. The meeting will be introduced by Roberto Fedele of the Ezio De Felice Foundation and will conclude with a speech by Angela Tecce, President of the Donnaregina Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

The Whitney Biennial: History and Meaning

Founded in 1932, the Whitney Biennial has had the goal from the beginning of valorizing American art, outlining an autonomous identity with respect to the European panorama. It is the only museum institution entirely dedicated to contemporary American art of the time and, for this reason, it has always attracted great media attention and generated cultural debates.

Royal Palace of Naples, an exhibition for the 300th anniversary of the birth of Giacomo Casanova 31 March 2025 - 18:29

Mirror of society and laboratory of trends

Since its inception, the Biennale has been a space for discussion, reflecting social and cultural changes, as well as emerging artistic trends. Each edition has represented a chapter in the history of American art, highlighting the most pressing issues, new languages, and the evolution of the art market.

Controversies and critical reflections

Over the years, the Biennale has also sparked controversy and debate, raising questions about the role of art in society and the very definition of “American art.” This has made it an opportunity for the public to critically reflect on current cultural and political issues.

Evolution and artistic experimentation

Over the past decades, the Whitney Biennial has continued to evolve, embracing new means of expression and artistic experimentation. Painting, sculpture, performance art and video art intertwine in an increasingly inclusive and representative path of the plurality of voices on the American scene.

Adam D. Weinberg: A Protagonist of Contemporary Art

Adam D. Weinberg is Director Emeritus and Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees of the Whitney Museum, which he directed from 2003 to 2023. Under his leadership, the museum has hosted nearly 300 exhibitions, both by established artists (Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frank Stella) and emerging talents such as Julie Mehretu. Weinberg has contributed to the growth of the museum and to its strengthening of its influence in the art world.

An intense curatorial and institutional activity

In addition to directing the Whitney, Weinberg has curated major exhibitions, published numerous catalogues, and lectured internationally. He serves on the boards of prestigious institutions such as the American Academy in Rome, the Art Mill Museum in Doha, and the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. He has received numerous awards, including the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and the Insigne dell'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government.

The exhibition Narrating the Museum Heritage

Launched in 2022 by the De Felice Cultural Foundation, the exhibition *Narrating Museum Heritage* explores the multiple dimensions of museography and museology. It is produced in collaboration with the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (Department of Letters and Cultural Heritage) and the University of Naples Federico II (Department of Architecture).

Third edition and important guests

The third edition of the event coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the De Felice Foundation and will continue until June 2025. Among the upcoming guests: Andrea Viliani, Pier Federico Caliari and Studio Migliore+Servetto. Personalities such as Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Marco Sala, Stefano Karadjov and Alexander Schwarz have already participated.

A cultural project in continuous evolution

In previous editions, the event has involved architects, museum directors and cultural professionals including Fabio Fabbrizzi, Marco Albini, Christian Greco, Stephan Verger and many others. An initiative that confirms itself as a point of reference for those who wish to deepen the dialogue between art, architecture and museum heritage.

The De Felice Foundation: Memory and Future of the Museum

With this initiative, the De Felice Foundation reaffirms its role as a privileged interlocutor in the museum field, the only reality in Campania to promote constant reflection on spaces, projects and ideas related to the world of museums.