Cecilia Alemani

Born in Italy, Alemani received her BA in philosophy from the University of Milan and her MA in Curatorial Studies from Bard College.{{Cite web|url=https://geinewyork.com/cecilia-alemani/|title=Cecilia Alemani|date=2017-11-01|website=GEI|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413002233/https://geinewyork.com/cecilia-alemani/|url-status=dead}}

From 2012 to 2017, Alemani curated Frieze Projects, the nonprofit platform of the Frieze Art Fair, which has presented new productions by emerging artists and reconstructions of historical exhibitions. From 2009 to 2010, she was Curatorial Director of the year-long X Initiative, New York, an experimental nonprofit for which she oversaw numerous exhibitions and events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/news/cecilia-alemani-appointed-artistic-director-of-fifty-ninth-venice-biennale-81846|title=Cecilia Alemani Appointed Artistic Director of Fifty-Ninth Venice Biennale|website=www.artforum.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-12}} Alemani is a co-founder of No Soul For Sale, a festival of independent spaces, nonprofit organizations, and artists’ collectives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nosoulforsale.com/|title=No Soul For Sale: A Festival of Independents|website=www.nosoulforsale.com|access-date=2020-04-12}} As an independent curator, she organized many exhibitions in museums, nonprofit spaces, and galleries, including Gió Marconi Gallery, Milan;{{Cite web|url=http://www.giomarconi.com/exhibitions/107/I_campi_magnetici/|title=I campi magnetici|last=Gió Marconi Gallery|date=|website=Gió Marconi Gallery|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 12, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.giomarconi.com/exhibitions/44/Solaris/|title=Solaris|last=Gió Marconi Gallery|date=|website=Gió Marconi Gallery|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 12, 2020}} Blum & Poe, Los Angeles;{{Cite web|url=https://www.blumandpoe.com/exhibitions/glee|title=Glee « Exhibitions « Blum & Poe|website=www.blumandpoe.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} MoMA PS1, New York;{{Cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/3798|title=GNY: Rotating Gallery 3 {{!}} MoMA|website=The Museum of Modern Art|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}} and the Whitney Museum, New York.{{Cite web|url=https://deste.gr/publication/down-by-law/|title=Down by Law|last=|first=|date=|website=Desde Foundation for Contemporary Art|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 12, 2020}}

In 2017, Alemani curated the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, 57th International Art Exhibition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/news/cecilia-alemani-to-curate-italian-pavilion-at-2017-venice-biennale-59773|title=Cecilia Alemani to Curate Italian Pavilion at 2017 Venice Biennale|website=www.artforum.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Titled Il Mondo Magico (The Magical World), the exhibition featured new large-scale, site-specific commissions by Giorgio Andreotta Calò, Roberto Cuoghi, and Adelita Husni-Bey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2017/italian-pavilion|title=Biennale Arte 2017 {{!}} Italian Pavilion|date=2017-05-26|website=La Biennale di Venezia|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}

In 2018, Alemani was artistic director of the first edition of Art Basel Cities, a new initiative in partnership with Buenos Aires to celebrate the city's thriving cultural ecosystem.{{Cite web|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/cecilia-alemani-artistic-director-art-basel-cities-buenos-aires-1078796|title=Cecilia Alemani Named Artistic Director of Art Basel Cities Buenos Aires|date=2017-09-13|website=artnet News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Alemani curated a city-wide exhibition titled Hopscotch (Rayuela) that featured 18 works in close dialogue with their venues, shaping a multilayered experience that connected visual art, urban spaces, and the city's histories in unexpected ways.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artbasel.com/stories/an-artistic-journey-through-buenos-aires|title=For seven days, see Buenos Aires through the eyes of 18 artists|website=Art Basel|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}} Among the participating artists were Eduardo Basualdo, Pia Camil, Maurizio Cattelan, Gabriel Chaile, and Luciana Lamothe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artbasel.com/stories/an-artistic-journey-through-buenos-aires|title=For seven days, see Buenos Aires through the eyes of 18 artists|website=Art Basel|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}

For Art Basel in 2019, Alemani commissioned Alexandra Pirici to stage a new iteration of Aggregate for the city's Messeplatz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.artbasel.com/stories/messeplatz-alexandra-pirici-glossary|title=A guide to Alexandra Pirici's Aggregate - Art Basel's public art project|website=Art Basel|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}} The immersive work is a performative environment featuring more than 60 performers who move around the visitors, enacting gestures and sounds that reference disparate forms of cultural heritage, creating something like a time capsule.

Since 2011, Alemani has overseen the High Line Art Program, developing an expertise in commissioning and producing ambitious artworks for public and unusual spaces. During her tenure at the High Line, she has commissioned major projects by El Anatsui,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/blog/2014/06/14/the-first-five-years-of-high-line-art-2/|title=The First Five Years of High Line Art|date=2014-06-14|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Carol Bove,{{Cite news|last=Rosenberg|first=Karen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/arts/design/carol-bove-sculpture-shows-at-the-high-line-and-moma.html|title=At Home in Two Places|date=2013-07-25|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Rashid Johnson,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/rashidjohnson/|title=Blocks|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Barbara Kruger,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/barbarakruger/|title=Untitled (Blind Idealism Is...)|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Faith Ringgold,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/faithringgold/|title=Groovin High|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Ed Ruscha,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/blog/2014/05/23/cecilia-alemani-on-ed-ruschas-high-line-commission/|title=Cecilia Alemani on Ed Ruscha's High Line Commission|date=2014-05-23|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} and Adrián Villar Rojas,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/adrianvillarrojas/|title=The Evolution of God|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} among other artists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/blog/2014/06/14/the-first-five-years-of-high-line-art-2/|title=The First Five Years of High Line Art|date=2014-06-14|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} She has also organized group exhibitions featuring works by young and emerging artists, including Firelei Báez,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/en-plein-air/|title=En Plein Air|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Jon Rafman,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/mutations/|title=Mutations|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Max Hooper Schneider,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/mutations/|title=Mutations|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} and Andra Ursuta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/busted/|title=Busted|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Recently, Alemani spearheaded the High Line Plinth, a new program featuring monumental artworks that commenced in June 2019 with Brick House, a sculpture by artist Simone Leigh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/plinth/|title=Plinth|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/simoneleigh/|title=Brick House|website=The High Line|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-13}} Through these public initiatives, Alemani has sought meaningful civic engagement by galvanizing dialogue, awareness, and a sense of possibility.

In response to her appointment as the Curator and artistic director of the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022, Alemani commented that “as the first Italian woman to hold this position, I understand and appreciate the responsibility and also the opportunity offered to me,” adding, “I intend to give voice to artists to create unique projects that reflect their visions and our society."{{Cite news|last=Farago|first=Jason|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/arts/design/venice-biennale-cecilia-alemani.html|title=Cecilia Alemani Named Curator of Next Venice Biennale|date=2020-01-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

== Other activities ==

Alemani was part of the jury that awarded the 2024 Preis der Nationalgalerie to Pan Daijing, Daniel Lie, Hanne Lippard and James RichardsMaximilíano Durón (28 April 2023), [https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/preis-der-nationalgalerie-sobey-art-award-long-list-artist-prizes-1234666009/ Artist Award Roundup: Preis der Nationalgalerie Goes to Four Artists, Sobey Art Award Reveals Long List, and More] ARTnews. and the 2023 Future Generation Art Prize to Ashfika Rahman.George Nelson (31 October 2024), [https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ashfika-rahman-wins-future-art-prize-1234722551/ Ashfika Rahman Wins PinchukArtCentre’s $100,000 Future Art Prize] ARTnews.

Alemani is married Massimiliano Gioni, an Italian curator and contemporary art critic. The couple has one son together and reside in the East Village, Manhattan in New York City.{{Cite web |title=Massimiliano Gioni: The Crown Prince of the Art World {{!}} Pearson College UWC |url=https://www.pearsoncollege.ca/massimiliano-gioni-the-crown-prince-of-the-art-world/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2020 |title=The Art World Works From Home: Venice Biennale Curator Cecilia Alemani Spends Her Days Cramming in Skype Studio Visits |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/the-art-world-works-from-home-cecilia-alemani-1829001 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}}

Alemani has written extensively for various publications, including Artforum.com{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/contributor/cecilia-alemani|title=Artforum.com|website=www.artforum.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-23}} and Mousse Magazine,{{Cite web|url=http://moussemagazine.it/lorraine-ogrady-cecilia-alemani-2010/|title=Living Symbols of New Epochs: Lorraine O'Grady •|date=2010-06-01|website=Mousse Magazine|language=it-IT|access-date=2020-04-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://moussemagazine.it/donald-judd-cecilia-alemani-2007/|title=Permanent Judd: Donald Judd •|date=2007-04-01|website=Mousse Magazine|language=it-IT|access-date=2020-04-23|archive-date=September 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917173508/http://moussemagazine.it/donald-judd-cecilia-alemani-2007/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://moussemagazine.it/camille-henrot-cecilia-alemani-2012/|title=Relations de Traduction: Camille Henrot •|date=2012-10-01|website=Mousse Magazine|language=it-IT|access-date=2020-04-23}} and has a weekly column in D, Repubblica as of October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.konstnarsnamnden.se/default.aspx?id=24002|title=Konstnärsnämnden - Cecilia Alemani|website=www.konstnarsnamnden.se|access-date=2020-04-23|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727195543/https://www.konstnarsnamnden.se/default.aspx?id=24002|url-status=dead}} She has authored, co-authored, edited or contributed entries to a number of books.

• Alemani, Cecilia, ed. Il mondo magico: Padiglione Italia, Biennale Arte 2017. Venice: Marsilio, 2017. {{ISBN|9788831727204}}
• Alemani, Cecilia, ed. High Art: Public Art on the High Line. New York: NY, Skira Rizzoli, 2015. {{ISBN|0847845192}}
• Alemani, Cecilia. “The Solar Anus.” In Jakub Ziółkowski: 2000 words. Athens, DESTE Foundation, 2014. {{ISBN|6185039052}}
• Alemani, Cecilia, ed. The X Initiative Yearbook. Milan: Mousse Publishing, 2010. {{ISBN|9788896501290}}
• Alemani, Cecilia, Maurizio Cattelan, and Massimiliano Gioni. Charley Independents. Athens: Deste Foundation, 2010. {{ISBN|9781935202318}}
• Alemani, Cecilia and Massimiliano Gioni, ed. I’m Not There. Gwangju: Gwangju Biennale Foundation, 2010. {{ISBN|9788987719115}}
• Alemani, Cecilia, Andrea Bellini, and Lillian Davies, ed. Collecting Contemporary Art. Zürich: JRP Ringier, 2008. {{ISBN|3037640154}}
• Alemani, Cecilia. Arte Contemporanea 7: Ambiente. Milan: Mondadori Electa, 2008.
• Alemani, Cecilia. William Kentridge. Milan: Mondadori Electa, 2006. {{ISBN|8837043635}}

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• {{Cite web |last1=Cash |first1=Stephanie |title=Cecilia Alemani Appointed Director of High Line Programs |work=ARTnews.com |date=2011-10-19 |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/cecilia-alemani-appointed-curator-at-the-high-line-58511/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |title=Cecilia Alemani |work=ARTnews.com |date=2010-09-09 |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/cecilia-alemani-56149/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |title=Cecilia Alemani / power 100 |work=ArtReview |url=https://artreview.com/power_100/cecilia_alemani/ |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Duray |first1=Dan |title=A walking tour of New York's High Line with Cecilia Alemani |work=The Art Newspaper |date=2016-07-27 |url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/a-walking-tour-of-new-york-s-high-line-with-cecilia-alemani |language=en |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite news |last1=Farago |first1=Jason |title=Cecilia Alemani Named Curator of Next Venice Biennale |work=The New York Times |date=2020-01-10 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/arts/design/venice-biennale-cecilia-alemani.html |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Gareth |title=Artists and projects announced for first Art Basel Cities Week in Buenos Aires |work=The Art Newspaper |date=2018-08-22 |url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/art-basel-cities-week-takes-over-buenos-aires-with-a-citywide-public-art-project |language=en |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Piepenbring |first1=Dan |title=Beautiful Mayhem |work=Frieze |date=2016-03-11 |url=https://frieze.com/article/beautiful-mayhem |language=en |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite news |last1=Shea |first1=Christopher D. |title=New York Curator Names Artists for Italian Pavilion at Venice Biennale |work=The New York Times |date=2016-11-15 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/arts/design/new-york-curator-named-for-italian-pavilion-at-venice-biennale.html |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Stapley-Brown |first1=Victoria |title='It's magic': curator Cecilia Alemani offers a glimpse into the Italian Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale |work=The Art Newspaper |date=2017-03-21 |url=http://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/its-magic-curator-cecilia-alemani-offers-a-glimpse-into-the-italian-pavilion-at-this-years-venice-biennale |language=en |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}
• {{Cite web |last1=Weist |first1=Nicholas |title=Cecilia Alemani Is the Eye Over the High Line |work=ARTnews.com |date=2012-02-13 |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/cecilia-alemani-high-line-frieze-56258/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2020-01-12 |df=mdy-all }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1977 births

Category:Italian art curators

Category:Writers from Milan

Category:Venice Biennale artistic directors

Category:Curators from Milan

Category:Italian art critics

Category:Italian women curators