From March 8 to July 27, 2025, the historic city of Pistoia will host an extraordinary exhibition dedicated to one of the most influential contemporary artists, Daniel Buren. Organized by Fondazione Pistoia Musei in collaboration with Fondazione Caript and Galleria Continua, DANIEL BUREN. Fare, Disfare, Rifare. Lavori in situ e situati 1968-2025 will take place at Palazzo Buontalenti and extend to other iconic locations in the city.
A Retrospective of Buren’s Groundbreaking Work
The exhibition, curated by Daniel Buren himself along with Monica Preti, director of Fondazione Pistoia Musei, will showcase a significant selection of the artist’s works. Spanning 13 rooms and featuring two external installations, the exhibition traces Buren’s artistic evolution from 1968 to the present. Visitors will experience historic and recent pieces, including site-specific installations created especially for Pistoia, emphasizing his deep connection with Italy and Tuscany.
A Journey Through the Exhibition
The exhibition unfolds across twelve rooms and the inner courtyard of Palazzo Buontalenti, guiding visitors through different phases of Buren’s artistic career. The first two rooms explore his early investigations from the mid-1960s, featuring works on paper and large-scale cotton canvas paintings. These pieces highlight the development of Buren’s signature style—alternating white and colored vertical stripes—gradually simplifying abstract forms into his distinctive visual language.
Moving through the exhibition, visitors will encounter key examples of Buren’s in situ practice, where artworks are designed specifically for the spaces they inhabit. The display includes significant pieces such as Tryptique Electrique-Orange and Tryptique Electrique-Rouge (2014), which play with color and light using LED and fiber optics. Another highlight is Quando il colore si guarda, che vediamo di lui?, a revisited version of a 1990 work that explores color perception and reflection.
A pivotal moment in the exhibition is the installation Découpé/Étiré in the central courtyard of Palazzo Buontalenti, a reimagining of a 1985 site-specific work. The structure, shaped like a cross, functions as a perspectival play of space, where interlocking archways create a dynamic visual experience. Further along, visitors will encounter examples of Buren’s Cabane éclatée (exploded hut) series, developed since 1975. These architectural structures interact with their surroundings, displaying their inner framework while projecting elements outward, engaging the environment in an ever-changing dialogue.
The final rooms present a focus on the artist’s preparatory process, showcasing architectural drawings and sketches of his interventions in Tuscany. The exhibition culminates with recent works, including Prismes et miroirs. Haut-relief, a series of high-relief sculptures where prismatic elements, enhanced by Buren’s striped motif, create a three-dimensional interplay of color and form.
A Dialogue Between Art and Space
Known for his signature alternating white and colored vertical stripes, Buren’s work transforms architectural spaces into immersive experiences. The exhibition includes ten paintings from 1965-66, two Cabane structures from 1985 and 2000/2019, and three recent high-relief pieces. Additionally, a dedicated section will present sketches and plans from Buren’s previous interventions in Tuscany.
Among the highlights, Découpé/Étiré—a reinterpretation of a 1985 site-specific work—will be installed in the inner courtyard of Palazzo Buontalenti. Another standout piece, La facciata ai venti, will animate the façade of the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi with a kinetic interplay of striped fabrics set in motion by fans, echoing the architectural motifs of Pistoia’s Cathedral and Baptistery.
Honorary Citizenship for Daniel Buren
As a testament to his impact on the city, the Municipality of Pistoia will award Daniel Buren honorary citizenship on March 8, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the Sala Maggiore of the Palazzo Comunale.
A Multi-Site Exhibition with Cultural Initiatives
The exhibition will extend beyond Palazzo Buontalenti, involving Palazzo de’ Rossi and the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi. Visitors can also explore Passeggiata nel Contemporaneo, a curated itinerary connecting Buren’s works with other contemporary art pieces in Pistoia.
Additionally, a screening of Buren’s film À contre-temps, à perte de vue (2018) will be held at the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi, with a special presentation by art historian Francesco Tedeschi on March 9, 2025.
Exhibition Details
- Venue: Palazzo Buontalenti, Via de’ Rossi 7, Pistoia
- Dates: March 8 – July 27, 2025
- Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday)
- Special Openings: Easter, Easter Monday, April 22, April 25, May 1, June 2-3
- Tickets:
- Buren Pass (Exhibition + Pistoia Musei venues): €12 (full), €9 (reduced)
- Exhibition only: €10 (full), €7 (reduced)
- Info & Reservations: pistoiamusei.it | [email protected] | Tel. +39 0573 974267
This exhibition is a unique opportunity for art lovers to witness Daniel Buren’s transformative approach to space, color, and form in one of Tuscany’s most charming cities.
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