Paul Thorel Prize — Winners' Exhibition at MACRO

The Paul Thorel Prize at MACRO in Rome

In the heart of the Salario-Nomentano district, at Via Nizza 138 in Rome, MACRO — Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome hosts the annual exhibition of the Paul Thorel Prize winners, one of the most original Italian awards dedicated to artistic research in digital languages. The event has become a staple of the capital's exhibition calendar, bringing the work of a new generation of artists engaging with technology to the Lazio region.

A prize born for digital imagery

The Paul Thorel Prize is promoted by the Paul Thorel Foundation, an institution based in Naples, Panarea, and Hydra, created to preserve and promote the legacy of Paul Thorel (1956-2020), a pioneer of electronic imagery and digital photography in Italy since the 1980s. Launched in 2022 and awarded annually, the prize has no age limit and supports projects that explore the codes of digital culture. Winners complete a residency at the Paul Thorel Studio/Archive in the Chiaia district of Naples, where they have access to advanced technology, technical support, and a production grant: these residencies result in the new works exhibited at MACRO.

«Le imperfezioni»: the 2026 third edition

From June 11 to August 30, 2026, MACRO presents «Le imperfezioni», the collective exhibition for the third edition of the prize, curated by Sara Dolfi Agostini. The exhibition brings together works created during the 2025 residency by Caterina De Nicola, Irene Fenara, and Lorenza Longhi. The three artists critically examine the transformations brought about by the digital economy, algorithmic image production, and the blurring lines between the real and the virtual. The title suggests imperfection as a form of resistance to machine predictability: glitches, residual materials, DIY practices, and visual interference become tools to reaffirm the human dimension in an increasingly automated and hyper-connected society.

Part of the MACRO summer program

The exhibition is part of the museum's 2026 summer season, which also features a major retrospective of Swiss artist Miriam Cahn («Ciò che mi guarda», June 11 - November 15, 2026). The two projects form a cohesive program focused on the female gaze and research in contemporary art, offering the Roman public a double reason to visit the museum.

A free municipal museum

MACRO is the contemporary art museum of the City of Rome, in the province of Rome (RM) and the Lazio region. Admission is free for both the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, making «Le imperfezioni» an accessible opportunity for everyone to explore digital arts and the emerging art scene supported by the Paul Thorel Foundation.