Alice Neel
I Am the Century
31 October 2025—April 2026
Pinacoteca Agnelli, Turin, Italy
This autumn, Pinacoteca Agnelli will present the first retrospective in Italy dedicated to American artist Alice Neel (Merion Square, PA, 1900–New York, NY, 1984), one of the most significant painters of the 20th century. Curated by Sarah Cosulich and Pietro Rigolo, I Am the Century will highlight Neel’s pioneering gaze and interest in humanity in all its forms.
Alice Neel’s trailblazing approach to portraiture touched upon fundamental human, social and political issues. Merging realism with surrealism and a critical gaze with empathic brushstrokes, Neel succeeded in reading the human soul in its most hidden folds. Due to her unique painting style – characterized by a spontaneous and yet precise way of conveying the essence and inner character of her sitters – Neel’s work continues to influence generations of artists today.
Spanning seven decades of the 20th century, the exhibition at Pinacoteca Agnelli will delve into the idea of Neel as a “chronicler of life”, and of her paintings as representations of the “human comedy”. Structured into six chapters, chronologically intertwined with the artist’s biography, I Am the Century will highlight Neel’s unique relationship with her subjects and their life stories. The exhibition will trace the artist’s style as it evolved over time, while indirectly emphasising how her revolutionary practice confronts the art historical canon and traditionally male perspective of portraiture.