Sanremo Art Festival
2nd Artexpo Biennale
November 13–16, 2025 Ariston Theatre, Sanremo
With: Ornella Muti, José Van Roy Dalí, Alberto Castiglione, Gian Mauro Sales Pandolfini, Marco Rebuzzi
Curated by: Sandro Serradifalco
Produced by: Effetto Arte Foundation, Palermo
A cura di: Sandro Serradifalco
Produzione: Fondazione Effetto Arte, Palermo Sanremo, the capital of music and symbol of Italian popular culture, is preparing to host an internationally significant artistic event.
From November 13 to 16, 2025, the beating heart of the city – the legendary Ariston Theatre – will be transformed into a grand stage dedicated to contemporary art, hosting the second edition of the Sanremo Art Festival – Artexpo Biennale.
Following the great success of the first edition, the event confirms itself as a reference point for artists, curators, critics, collectors, and art lovers, offering a broad, refined, and deeply inclusive cultural proposal. The Ariston Theatre – universally recognized for the Italian Song Festival – will open its doors to new forms of expression, welcoming an innovative visual narrative capable of combining contemporary languages with the historical memory of the twentieth century.
Conceived and directed by Sandro Serradifalco and promoted by the Effetto Arte Foundation, which has long been committed to the promotion of art and culture in all its forms, the Biennale presents itself as an immersive and emotional experience, a true journey through beauty, vision, provocation, and reflection. The exhibition will be wide-ranging, multidisciplinary, and cross-cutting, divided into thematic sections, immersive pathways, and cultural encounters, offering the public the chance to explore the contradictions of the present, the roots of collective aesthetic imagination, and the future perspectives of art. The works on display will range from painting to sculpture, photography to video art, and multimedia installations to hybrid forms of digital expression.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Biennale will be the generational and stylistic dialogue between the new visions of contemporary art and the works of great twentieth-century masters: a confrontation that is not only aesthetic but cultural and symbolic, restoring to art its original role as a mirror of the times, a living memory, and a driver of change.
Ornella Muti, godmother of the event
The inauguration will be graced by the extraordinary presence of Ornella Muti, who will attend the opening day as the godmother of the Biennale. Daughter of a Neapolitan journalist and an Estonian sculptor, Ornella Muti began her film career at just 14 years old with La moglie più bella (The Most Beautiful Wife) by Damiano Damiani, based on the story of Franca Viola. One of Italy’s most beloved and iconic actresses, she has worked with directors such as Mario Monicelli, Dino Risi, Marco Ferreri, Ettore Scola, Carlo Verdone, and internationally with Woody Allen in To Rome with Love.
Honored Guests: Art, Culture, and Thought
Alongside her, the festival will feature the participation of notable figures from the cultural and artistic landscape:
• José Van Roy Dalí, son of the famous Salvador Dalí, a renowned painter known for his original style and commitment to promoting young talent.
• Marco Rebuzzi, art historian and curator of the “Francesco Gonzaga” Diocesan Museum in Mantua, author of publications on the Gonzaga dynasty and sacred art.
• Gian Mauro Sales Pandolfini, anthropologist and art critic, expert in collective imagination and occultism, former cultural consultant for Vittorio Sgarbi in the Sicily region.
• Alberto Castiglione, director and journalist, author of documentaries on Mauro Rostagno, Aldo Moro, and Danilo Dolci, a prize-winning director, and creator of series for Sky and Netflix.
The Ariston Theatre Transformed into an Art Gallery
During the event, the roof of the Ariston Theatre will be completely reconfigured to host an elegant and immersive exhibition setup, transforming one of Italy’s most iconic entertainment venues into a true contemporary art gallery.
The works of contemporary Italian and international artists will interact with those of established masters, in a visual path designed to engage and emotionally move the audience, in the spirit of cultural contamination and beauty.
The Exhibition of 20th-Century Masters: A Bridge Between Eras
One of the most anticipated sections of the festival is the Exhibition of 20th-Century Masters, a tribute to some of the most influential figures in modern art. Works by Mario Schifano, Tano Festa, Franco Angeli, Renato Guttuso, Remo Brindisi, Mario Sironi, Marco Lodola, Ugo Nespolo, Giuseppe Migneco, Ernesto Treccani, Andy Warhol, and other major protagonists of the last century will be on display. This journey, rich in meaning, is designed to offer an experience of contemplation and dialogue, where the artistic language of the past intertwines with contemporary visions, creating a fertile conversation between memory and innovation, tradition and avant-garde.
A Festival for All: Free, Inclusive, Global
One of the core principles of the Biennale is accessibility. Admission will be free to ensure participation from all: students, families, scholars, curious minds, and collectors. At a time when art risks being confined to elitist spaces, the Biennale aims to be an open and vital platform where every visitor can feel like an active part of a collective narrative. It is not only an exhibition, but also a laboratory of ideas, emotions, and relationships, promoting encounters between generations, cultures, and different artistic visions.
The Effetto Arte Foundation: Culture, Ethics, and Social Commitment
The Effetto Arte ETS Foundation, the driving force and promoter of the initiative, has been working for over twenty years to spread authentic art, supporting artists often excluded from major circuits and investing in culture as a social and educational lever. In addition to producing high-profile events and publications, the Foundation is deeply involved in humanitarian and social responsibility projects, donating part of the proceeds to support numerous charitable organizations and third-sector initiatives. These include: Caritas, Save the Children, UNICEF, Pio Alferano and Virginia Ippolito Foundation, Città Identitarie Foundation, Missione di Speranza e Carità, LabCasagiallasulmolo, and many other solidarity initiatives active both nationally and internationally.
With this spirit, the Sanremo Art Festival – Artexpo Biennale is not only a cultural event but also an ethical and participatory platform, where art becomes a tool for reflection, solidarity, and transformation.
With this spirit, the Sanremo Art Festival – Artexpo Biennale is not just a cultural event, but an ethical and participatory platform, where art becomes a tool for reflection, solidarity, and transformation.
FOR USEFUL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
DOTT.SSA MARIELLA RICCA ph. 3476884188
e-mail: mariella.ricca73@gmail.com
