Fausto Pirandello in the Valley of the Temples: the magic of the everyday returns to the land of his father

From 20 March to 2 June 2026, Villa Aurea, in the heart of the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, hosts the exhibition “Fausto Pirandello. The Magic of the Everyday”, a powerful and intimate tribute to one of the leading figures of 20th‑century Italian art. Curated by Fabio Benzi and Flavia Matitti, the exhibition is organized by the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca together with the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples, in collaboration with the Fausto Pirandello Association.

🎨 Exhibition Period

• 20 March – 2 June 2026
• Venue: Villa Aurea, Valley of the Temples, Agrigento

🕒 Opening Hours

The exhibition can be visited during the public opening hours of the Archaeological Park, according to the official schedule.

🖼️ Works on Display

The exhibition brings together:

• around thirty paintings, selected from the artist’s greatest masterpieces
• a significant group of works on paper, with particular attention to pastels, Pirandello’s preferred technique in the post‑war years

This selection offers a complete overview of his pictorial research, from the dense materiality of the 1930s to the more rarefied introspection of the post‑war period.

🌟 Why It’s Worth Visiting

1. A return to his roots

The exhibition represents a true “homecoming”: although born in Rome, Fausto Pirandello carried within his imagination the memory of his father’s Sicily—Luigi Pirandello, born in Girgenti (today Agrigento). The exhibition is conceived as a bridge between Rome and Agrigento, between the artist’s formation and his family origins.

2. A unique setting

Viewing Pirandello’s paintings within the Valley of the Temples creates a striking dialogue between:

• the restless modernity of his pictorial language
• the classical monumentality of the archaeological landscape

A contrast that amplifies the expressive power of the works.

3. A rare opportunity

The exhibition is part of a broader project, presented across two venues (Rome and Agrigento), organized for the fiftieth anniversary of the artist’s death. It is therefore an unrepeatable event in terms of scope and the quality of the works selected.