From 14 March to 23 August 2026, Palazzo Strozzi presents an unmissable exhibition dedicated to the great master of American art, Mark Rothko. The showcase features an extraordinary selection of masterpieces, including large-scale paintings never before exhibited in Italy, on loan from prestigious private collections and international institutions such as MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Tate in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Curated by Christopher Rothko and Elena Geuna, the exhibition retraces the evolution of Rothko’s oeuvre: from his early figurative works, in dialogue with Expressionism and Surrealism, to his iconic abstract canvases of the 1950s and 60s, while also exploring his profound connection with the Italian artistic tradition. The exhibition pays tribute to a pivotal figure in modern art history, whose work creates immersive spaces where color and light invite meditation and introspection, in a constant tension between abstraction and spirituality. Starting from Palazzo Strozzi, the project extends throughout the city of Florence, involving two satellite sections in locations particularly dear to the artist: the Museo di San Marco, where his works engage with the frescoes of Beato Angelico, and the Vestibule of the Laurentian Medici Library, designed by Michelangelo.
The exhibition Rothko in Florence is promoted and organized by Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, in collaboration with the Museo di San Marco – Ministry of Culture – Regional Directorate of National Museums Tuscany, and the Laurentian Medici Library.
Public Supporters of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi: Comune di Firenze, Regione Toscana, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Camera di Commercio di Firenze. Private Supporters of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi: Fondazione CR Firenze, Intesa Sanpaolo, Fondazione Hillary Merkus Recordati, Palazzo Strozzi Partners Committee.
Cover image: Mark Rothko, No. 3 / No. 13, 1949, New York, MoMA-The Museum of Modern Art, Bequest of Mrs. Mark Rothko through The Mark Rothko Foundation, Inc. 428.1981, Photo credits: Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Firenze © 1998 by Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SIAE, Rome.
Where
piazza San Marco, 3 - Firenze
