What’s On

As the golden light of late summer softens into early autumn, Rome becomes a canvas for creative reverie. From historic palaces to contemporary institutions, the city offers a curated dialogue between past and present—art that speaks to memory, ritual, identity, and renewal. Below, discover the exhibitions we’re most drawn to this season.     Galleria Borghese – Poems of the Black Earth by Wangechi Mutu (Until 14 September 2025)   A groundbreaking solo exhibition by Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu—her first in Italy and the first by a living female artist at the Galleria Borghese. Mutu weaves together mythology, femininity, ecology, and colonial legacy in over 25 works, including collages and biomorphic sculptures suspended in air. Her art enters into delicate yet powerful conversation with the villa’s collection of Caravaggios and Berninis, offering a hauntingly beautiful meditation on what we inherit, and what we bury.   Discover more - Galleria Borghese     Chiostro del Bramante – FLOWERS. Flowers in art, from the Renaissance to the virtual (Until 14 September 2025)   Inside a Renaissance cloister steeped in harmony, this exhibition unfolds like a blooming garden—bringing together artworks from classical painters to contemporary creators and immersive digital artists. A feast for the senses, it is both scholarly and joyful, showing how something as delicate as a flower can hold centuries of symbolism, faith, politics, and passion. Don’t miss the installations that invite you to quite literally walk into a living painting.   Discover more - Chiostro del Bramante     MAXXI – Stadiums: Architecture of a Myth, Stop Drawing, and more (through 21-26 September 2025)   At Zaha Hadid’s sculptural museum of the 21st century, architecture becomes narrative. Stadiums: Architecture of a Myth reflects on the cultural power of sports arenas, while Stop Drawing challenges how we imagine buildings without ever putting pencil to paper. The program is an ode to experimentation, where concept meets form and emotion meets space. An essential visit for lovers of design, city life, and future-thinking creativity.   Discover more - MAXXI     Villa Torlonia – Mafai, Raphaël, Berlinguer and more (Until 2 November 2025)   This trio of intimate exhibitions invites us into the private rooms of creativity. Mario Mafai and Antonietta Raphaël—founders of the Scuola Romana—share a story of artistic love and political resilience. Alongside them, Niki Berlinguer offers a tactile, poetic tribute through textiles and tapestries. In the neoclassical charm of Villa Torlonia, every room feels like a letter left behind by someone who dared to imagine a softer world.   Discover more - Villa Torlonia     Vittoriano – Open City 2025: Rome in the Year of the Jubilee (Until 28 September 2025) Set beneath the colonnades of the Altar of the Fatherland, this exhibition is a journey through sacred Rome—its rituals, pilgrimages, and reinventions. Through photographs, archival footage, and urban plans, Open City 2025 explores how Rome has prepared itself for the Jubilee, and how the city continues to balance solemnity and splendor. The view from the rooftop terrace is, as always, a reminder of why Rome remains a spiritual home for millions.   Discover more - Vittoriano     Museo di Roma in Trastevere – Frigidaire, Freehand, and Tina Modotti (Until mid‑September)   In the heart of Trastevere, this museum feels like a secret haven of bold ideas. Frigidaire dives into the anarchic brilliance of Italy’s underground magazine scene, while Freehand reveals how animated film transformed storytelling in the post-war years. The standout, though, is Tina Modotti—a tribute to the radical photographer, activist, and muse. Together, these exhibitions create a rich, layered portrait of 20th-century resistance, image, and imagination.   Discover more - Museo di Roma in Trastevere     Ara Pacis Museum – Franco Fontana: Colore e Spazio (Until 31 August 2025)   Franco Fontana’s retrospective at the Ara Pacis is a celebration of line, hue, and silence. Over 200 works—landscapes, cities, nudes, and fashion—reveal his unmistakable mastery of color as a language of structure. Fontana’s camera doesn’t just capture space; it builds it, offering a visual rhythm that feels both architectural and musical. Set against the serene altar of Augustus, this show reminds us of Rome’s dual identity: classical and ever-modern.   Discover more - Ara Pacis Museum     Fondazione Memmo – Soft You by Anthea Hamilton (Until 2 November 2025)   British artist Anthea Hamilton reimagines Shakespeare’s Othello through scent, texture, and form in this multisensory installation. Using velvet, marble, clay, and botanical elements, Soft You becomes a stage where vulnerability and alienation are tangible. Hamilton has described the work as an “emotional theatre,” and indeed it feels like entering a dream built from memory and metaphor. The experience lingers like a whispered poem.   Discover more - Fondazione Memmo     Baths of Caracalla – Specchio d’Acqua (New Permanent Installation)   While not a formal exhibition, the recent addition of Specchio d’Acqua—a vast reflecting pool at the Baths of Caracalla—deserves mention. It magnifies the grandeur of the ruins, doubling the arches and columns in silent water. At sunset, when performances are held or when silence reigns, the space feels like a modern temple to stillness, inviting both wonder and reflection.   Discover more - Baths of Caracalla     Concierge Tips   Looking to skip the lines or book a private visit? Our team at Rome Luxury Suites would be delighted to arrange a tailor-made art itinerary for your stay. From chauffeur services to exclusive gallery tours and after-hours access, we make sure your Roman holiday is filled with cultural beauty—and none of the queues.