The Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, is hosting "Interspaces," a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Nanni Valentini (1932–1985), a pivotal figure in ceramic art. Curated by Garth Johnson of the Everson Museum and Luca Bochicchio of the Museo della Ceramica di Savona, with oversight by art historian Flaminio Gualdoni, the show runs until September 6, 2026. It traces Valentini's evolution from functional pottery to conceptual wall works, featuring pieces like "I segni della terra" (1981) and "Impronta-totem" (1979), on loan from ABC-ARTE gallery. The exhibition marks Valentini's return to the U.S., where he first gained international recognition at the museum's 1958 Ceramic International, introduced by Lucio Fontana.
This exhibition matters because it reasserts Valentini's role in transforming ceramics from a craft medium into a fully conceptual visual art language, challenging traditional hierarchies in the art world. The Everson Museum, with its historic Ceramic National exhibitions, has long championed boundary-pushing ceramic artists, and this show continues that legacy. The project also strengthens transatlantic cultural dialogue, with a second installment planned for 2027 in Italy between Savona and Albisola, ensuring Valentini's innovative legacy reaches new audiences on both continents.