Paolo Annibali - Eppure tutto resta: conversazione con i classici

A Retrospective Exhibition in the Heart of Ascoli Piceno

The Pinacoteca Civica of Ascoli Piceno, located within the Palazzo dell'Arengo in Piazza Arringo, will host the retrospective exhibition "Paolo Annibali - Eppure tutto resta: conversazione con i classici" from April 12 to September 20, 2026. Promoted by the Civic Museums and the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, the exhibition pays homage to one of the most important contemporary sculptors from the Marche, who passed away in June 2025. The inauguration was held on April 11, 2026, in the presence of the artist's family and city authorities.

Over Fifty Works Between Drawing and Sculpture

The exhibition itinerary brings together over fifty works spanning more than thirty years of activity, from the nineties to his latest creations. It features highly refined drawings, terracotta and bronze sculptures made using the lost-wax casting technique, and preparatory models for monumental works. The selection showcases Annibali's unmistakable style, characterized by figures suspended between reality and dream, where the reference to classicism merges with a profoundly contemporary sensibility.

A Dialogue with the Masters of the Past

The title itself, conversazione con i classici (conversation with the classics), defines the exhibition's concept: Annibali's works are placed in dialogue with the masterpieces housed in the Pinacoteca, from the paintings by Carlo Crivelli and Titian to the panels by Cola dall'Amatrice, and the famous painting by Pellizza da Volpedo. This creates a close comparison between ancient and modern, where the memory of the great masters becomes living material for the artist's reflection on beauty, myth, and time.

Curated by Stefano Papetti and Conceived by the Artist

The exhibition is curated by art historian Stefano Papetti and was conceived by Paolo Annibali himself before his death: a project intended as a final dialogue with the city he loved and with the public. Born in San Benedetto del Tronto in 1958 and trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Annibali exhibited in numerous solo and group shows, accompanied by critical studies from authors such as Vittorio Sgarbi, Rossana Bossaglia, and Erri De Luca.

An Event for the City of a Hundred Towers

For Ascoli Piceno, the city of a hundred towers in the heart of the Marche, this retrospective is not only a fitting tribute to a local artist but also an opportunity to rediscover the Pinacoteca Civica and its extraordinary heritage. The exhibition's extended duration, from April to September, makes it one of the most significant cultural offerings of the Ascoli summer, accessible to residents and visitors choosing the Piceno area as their travel destination.