Joseph Beuys exhibition opens at Santa Maria della Scala

The Santa Maria della Scala in Siena is hosting the exhibition ‘Remember Joseph Beuys’ from September 13 to November 15. The exhibition features a collection of works and documents donated by cultural operator and patron Lucrezia De Domizio Durini, including ten large-scale photographic prints and thirty-two framed photographs.

The event follows a long-standing dispute regarding a 2019 proposal by Durini to donate 478 contemporary art pieces to the Municipality of Siena. That original donation, which required permanent and full exhibition of the works, was revoked due to bureaucratic hurdles, logistical issues, and space shortages. A formal agreement to resolve the contract and settle damages was approved by the city council in January 2025, with the matter expected to close by November 2025.

The current exhibition focuses on the relational and social dimensions of Beuys’ work, exploring themes of individual responsibility, the relationship between humanity and nature, and the role of art in social transformation.