L’inconfondibile segno di Elisa Montessori in mostra a Roma tra sculture, disegni, installazioni
The article reviews the exhibition "50×35" at Monitor gallery in Rome, celebrating a decade of collaboration with artist Elisa Montessori (born 1931). The show presents a survey of works from 2014 to 2026, including paintings, installations, sculptures, an artist's book, and a large pine branch. Highlights include the site-specific installation "Il segno" inspired by Virginia Woolf, a series of works on paper titled "Il segno sul muro #1-14" (2026), and new pieces from 2024 that revisit her 1973 "Tropismi" series, incorporating rare photographic elements and airbrush painting on stencil.
The exhibition matters because it showcases the enduring creative vitality of a 94-year-old artist who continues to experiment with diverse techniques and materials, challenging age stereotypes. Montessori's practice, rooted in an intuitive and instinctual approach to mark-making and nature, demonstrates a coherent yet multifaceted artistic vision that draws from both Western and Chinese cultural influences. The show underscores the gallery's long-term commitment to an artist whose work remains rigorous, recognizable, and free, offering a model of sustained artistic innovation in later life.