Lucio Fontana: Expectation – Exhibition at the Von der Heydt Museum The Von der Heydt Museum proudly presents "Lucio Fontana: Expectation," a comprehensive retrospective of the internationally renowned artist Lucio Fontana (1899–1968). As one of the key figures of 20th-century art, Fontana's groundbreaking approaches left a lasting mark on art history. This is the first major exhibition in Germany in nearly 30 years to refocus on his multifaceted body of work. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience around 100 pieces from public and private collections, including his iconic slashed canvases ("Expectation") alongside installations, ceramics, and conceptual works. The exhibition also offers fascinating insights into Fontana's influence on subsequent generations of artists and highlights the continuing relevance of his work in today's increasingly digitalized world.
Fontana's iconic series of slashed canvases, titled "Expectation" (Italian "Attesa"), symbolize his fascination with light, space, and material, as well as his drive to explore new artistic frontiers. The exhibition also highlights Fontana’s influence on subsequent generations of artists, such as Piero Manzoni, Yves Klein, and the ZERO movement in the Rhineland.
His work, deeply concerned with space and time, resonates strongly today, particularly as Fontana identified speed as the key experience of modernity as early as 1946. His pieces stand in stark contrast to the digital world, as they derive their power from a direct, often unconventional engagement with materials. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Fondazione Lucio Fontana in Milan.