Hauser & Wirth Reveals Intentions for Its Inaugural Italian Gallery

Swiss mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth will inaugurate its 18th location in Palermo, Sicily.

Photo by Giovanni Costagliola. Courtesy Of Hauser & Wirth.

Hauser & Wirth has unveiled their intentions for Mediterranean development by establishing a new gallery in Palermo, Sicily. The 18th venue by the art giant signifies its inaugural permanent establishment in Italy.

The new gallery will be established within the historic Palazzo Forcella De Seta, the neo-Gothic edifice located on Palermo’s shoreline. The palace, constructed in the mid-19th century for the Marquis Forcella, has housed the Galleria Mediterranea, the city's inaugural private art gallery, from 1937 to 1940, a 1950s gambling establishment, and the Administrative Justice Council. Recently, it functioned as a location for the Manifesta 12 biennial in 2018.

Iwan Wirth, president of Hauser & Wirth, confirmed the acquisition last week, describing the project as an artistic and architectural endeavour. “It is an honour and privilege to restore a site of profound significance and beauty,” he stated, noting that the gallery seeks to establish “a new arts destination in a location celebrated for cultural exchange over the centuries.”

Initial reports indicate that roughly 21,000 square feet of the building have been listed for sale, encompassing the main floor, which is set to serve as a principal exhibition area, in addition to two wings and a distinct structure designated for office use.

Although comprehensive programming and refurbishment plans remain undisclosed, the Palermo project extends the contemporary mega-gallery's efforts to enhance old cultural sites, following similar initiatives in Somerset, England, Menorca, Spain, and downtown Los Angeles.