Robert Rauschenberg at Museo del Novecento

Rauschenberg & Novecento

Curated by Gianfranco Maraniello & Nicola Ricciardi with Viviana Bertanzetti

On the centenary of Robert Rauschenberg’s birth (Port Arthur, 1925 – Captiva Island, 2008), the Museo del Novecento pays tribute to one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century, forging a bridge between his works and some of the most significant masterpieces housed in the museum’s collections.

A pivotal figure in the transition from modern to contemporary art, Rauschenberg saw every work as the result of encounters, discoveries, and fragments of the world reassembled into a new order. This very approach guides the narrative of the exhibition, which unfolds across multiple galleries, weaving an unprecedented dialogue between Rauschenberg’s relentless drive for experimentation and the artistic movements that shaped Italy’s 20th century, from Futurism to Arte Povera.

Through overlapping visions, materials, and artistic intentions, Rauschenberg’s works engage directly with the museum’s collections, creating resonances, formal affinities, and thematic connections. The outcome is a journey that mirrors the daring explorations of artists who, like Rauschenberg, invented new languages, challenged materials, and revolutionized the conventions of painting and sculpture.

From his iconic assemblages to the fusion of images and found objects, from mirrored surfaces to the evocative power of the simplest materials, unconventional approaches stand at the core of Rauschenberg’s artistic practice. This innovative spirit infuses every section of the exhibition, recently enriched by a meticulous curatorial reorganization.

Organized on the occasion of the 29th edition of miart, the international fair of modern and contemporary art by Fiera Milano, and with the support of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the exhibition celebrates art as a space for connection and dialogue. It invites visitors to rediscover the 20th century–and the museum itself–through the same fierce curiosity that has always defined the American artist.

Link to exhibition page: https://www2.comune.milano.it/web/museo-del-900/-/rauschenberg-e-il-novecento