Francesco Stocchi is no longer the artistic director of the MAXXI Museum in Rome. After 3 years, his mandate was not renewed

Francesco Stocchi's mandate as artistic director of the MAXXI museum in Rome will end in June 2026, after a three-year term that began on June 28, 2023. The decision was reached by mutual agreement between Stocchi and the Fondazione MAXXI, marking the conclusion of a tenure that followed Hou Hanru's leadership. During his time at MAXXI, Stocchi focused on the museum's social role, strengthening its identity and opening new research perspectives. He will continue to oversee some ongoing projects, including a Gordon Matta-Clark retrospective scheduled for November 13. Stocchi, born in Rome in 1975, is a prominent figure in Italian contemporary art, having previously held curatorial roles at the Fondazione Carriero in Milan and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, where he served as curator of modern and contemporary art from 2012 to 2023. He also curated the Swiss Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale with Latifa Echakhch and Alexander Babel.

This leadership change matters because MAXXI is Italy's premier national museum of contemporary art and architecture, and Stocchi's departure signals a potential shift in its curatorial direction. His tenure was marked by significant achievements, notably the exhibition "Ambienti 1956–2010. Environments by Women Artists II," which became the most visited show in the museum's history with over 50,000 visitors. The exhibition featured immersive installations by 19 women artists from different generations and geographies, including Judy Chicago, Lygia Clark, and Pipilotti Rist. Stocchi's emphasis on experiential, architecturally engaged exhibitions and his ability to draw large audiences set a high bar for his successor. The museum's board will now begin the process of selecting a new artistic director, a decision that will shape MAXXI's programming and its role in the international contemporary art landscape.