Pubblico | Contemporary Art Program

Pubblico weaves together the private dimension that traditionally defines an artist’s studio practice with an openly public and participatory impulse. The project originates in the ateliers of Building B9 at Manifattura Tabacchi, a large post-industrial hall that has hosted artists-in-residence since last July.

As part of Estate Fiorentina 2025, the program begins on Thursday 3rd July with a talk at Circolo Mario Bencini (7.00 pm) featuring the work of artists not native to the area – Lusine Kagramanyan and Romesh Bothalage – followed at 9.00 pm by the opening of Dissing, a solo show by Cecilia Mentasti at the Space: an affective interference of human and non-human presences, shaped by languages of care, dogs, and long-distance relationships.

On Thursday 10th July, a new evening unfolds through image, word, and sound with Dear Lola & Prisci, a vocal-choreographic performance by Martina Rota that evolves with each appearance. Every performance is marked by a hairstyle created for the occasion. The evening begins at 7.00 pm with a talk featuring Selma OK and Wu Yeping, and continues at 9.00 pm with the performance in Piazza delle Sigaraie. Talks take place at Circolo Mario Bencini, a convivial venue open to dialogue, where each session is followed by shared food and drinks before events at Manifattura.

The program continues with four open studios, where the resident artists invite the public into their workspaces: 31st July with Jona B. Gandolfo, 10th September with Francesco Maggiora, 17th September with Gaia Lupo, and 24th September with Francesco Toninelli. All sessions begin at 7.00 pm in the ateliers. Blending the studio program format with that of a public program, Pubblico centers a reflection on the artist as a collective resource. Its aim is to bring artists and communities closer together and support the growth of new creative scenes in the city.