Center For Italian Modern Art

New York City is full of art galleries and museums. This space, dedicated to modern Italian art is largely unknown and remarkably different from other galleries. You purchase a $ 10 admission ticket and get a curated tour of the exhibit. It’s a nonprofit institute that sponsors five fellows each year. It’s set up as a residential space, with a kitchen as you get off the elevator. You are offered coffee or water as you wait for the tour to begin. It’s intended to recreate the experience of seeing artwork in the home of a collector – which in fact was the case of the person who founded the center. In Italy, he would open his house on Sunday for visitors to view his collection. It’s definitely a unique opportunity to learn about art (and artists) you might otherwise have never known about.

The museum is huge so impossible to see in one go. Unfortunately it does not include Native American art. It follows art historical narratives (that I disagree with). But still, what an achievement to have so much from everywhere (except the U.S. itself) in those galleries.
A must: the Rodin’s in the sculpture garden and the old city chandeliers that now are a beautiful art installation.

The Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA) is a non profit organization in SoHo dedicated to exhibiting and educating the public about 20^th century Italian art. In addition to generally season-​long installations, it hosts resident graduate fellows and ongoing public programming focused on Italian art and design. Their opening exhibition in spring 2014 featured works by Fortunato Depero (who was simultaneously included in a major exhibition on Futurism at the Guggenheim), while their 2014 – 15 show included sculptures and works on paper by Medrado Rosso along with two works by American Cy Twombly; their 2015 – 16 installation opening in just a few weeks will include works on canvas and paper by Giorgio Morandi (1890 – 1964). More than just another display space, CIMA offers an intentionally relaxed atmosphere, frequently including refreshments, with the aim of encouraging conversation about the works on display among all who visit. The space is accessible via elevator, although the facilities are on the far side of the cloak room!