Sguardi sull’Africa
March 1st – May 17, 2026
The first major exhibition in Italy dedicated to the richness and diversity of African artistic production over the past century, Sguardi sull’Africa was presented at Palazzo Gotico in Piacenza from March 1st to May 17, 2026. Curated by Samuele Menin and Paolo Giglio, the exhibition featured works by Ako Atikossie, an artist represented by Nashira Gallery.
As the cradle of humankind, Africa is a continent of extraordinary cultural vitality, shaped by a remarkable diversity of traditions and artistic languages. A longstanding source of inspiration for Western art—informing the work of artists such as Picasso, Modigliani, and Giacometti—African art has, in recent decades, gained increasing international recognition through major museum exhibitions, biennials, and a growing presence within the global art market.
Conceived through the dialogue between the Collezione Giglio and Collezione 54, the exhibition brought together more than 200 artworks and artefacts, offering a broad survey of African artistic production over the last century. Installed within the historic spaces of Palazzo Gotico, the exhibition unfolded through a site-specific display designed by Fosbury Architecture.
The exhibition was organised into four thematic sections: ritual objects and sculpture (Collezione Giglio), featuring masks, sculptures, and artefacts collected over more than seventy years across West and Central Africa; Moroccan painting (Collezione Giglio), dedicated to the country’s artistic production from the post-war period to the present; contemporary African art (Collezione 54), presenting works by internationally active African and diasporic artists working across painting, photography, sculpture, installation, and video; and emerging voices from Africa, highlighting a new generation of artists, including Ako Atikossie.
The exhibition was accompanied by a programme of educational activities, talks, panel discussions, and performances, extending the exhibition experience while offering a multifaceted perspective on a continent in constant transformation.
Installation view, Sguardi sull’Africa, Palazzo Gotico, Piacenza, Courtesy Lara Facco
Ako Atikossie, L’Europa o L’Assenza, coloured plaster sculptures, 73x40×40 cm
Chagas Edson, Tipo Passe (Diana S. Sakulombo), 2014, photographic print, 100×80 cm, Courtesy m3studio
Installation view, Sguardi sull’Africa, Palazzo Gotico, Piacenza, Courtesy Lara Facco
Abdoulaye Konate’, DANSE AU CONSERVATOIRE N.9, 2011, textile, 236×127 cm
Ako Atikossie, Apertura della capsula, 2025, acrylic and oil on canvas, 220x128x9 cm
Installation view, Sguardi sull’Africa, Palazzo Gotico, Piacenza, Courtesy Lara Facco
