Amalfi toast - the revival of Naples, Italy's local art scene

ArtForum, Summer, 1997 by Francesco Galdieri

The coming months promise much in the way of contemporary art in Naples. After the public success a year ago of Maschio Angiono's "Viaggio in Italia" - a survey of many works from Andy Warhol's "Flowers," "Marilyn," and "Campbell's" series that, while being criticized for its poor installation, still managed to attract 55,000 visitors - this summer's exhibition of "grafitti art," featuring work by Americans Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, is expected to draw large crowds. And in November Naples will have its turn hosting a contemporary art fair. While it's too soon to know who will attend, so far eighty Italian galleries, including all the major Neapolitan dealers, have been invited to the show organized by MIART, the Milan-based association. The show should give visitors from throughout Italy a good sampling of what Naples has to offer - both old and new.

Francesco Galdieri is a journalist and critic based in Naples.