Art

Carrie Mae Weems Brings Urgent Beauty to Turin

Gallerie d’Italia – Turin hosts a major retrospective of Carrie Mae Weems, featuring iconic works and a powerful new commission, from April to September 2025.

Por: Angela Leon Cervera April 23, 2025

From 17 April to 7 September 2025, Gallerie d’Italia – Turin will host Carrie Mae Weems: The Heart of the Matter, a compelling retrospective that traces the evolution of one of America’s most profound artistic voices.

Curated by Sarah Meister and organized in collaboration with Aperture Foundation, the exhibition forms part of EXPOSED Torino Photo Festival, and features around 100 works spanning photography, video, and installation.

Weems, renowned for her incisive explorations of race, gender, history, and power, brings to Italy not only her most celebrated series—including the iconic Kitchen Table Series (1990) and Museums (2006–ongoing)—but also unveils a new commission: Preach.

What Is the ‘Preach’ Project and Why Is It So Timely?

Commissioned specifically for this exhibition, Preach is a multisensory installation that honors the spiritual and activist role of the Black church across generations.

Combining early images from Harlem and Sea Island with newly created works, Weems creates a rich visual sermon on sacred space, resilience, and memory.

The accompanying poem—”In the flames and among the bombs, pray where and when you can…”—evokes sanctuary, resistance, and radical faith.

With Preach, Weems blurs the sacred and the secular, inviting viewers into a collective meditation on worship, community, and survival.

Which Other Works Are Featured?

The exhibition includes:

Kitchen Table Series (1990), where Weems reclaims domestic space as a stage for identity and power.
Museums (2006–ongoing), critiquing institutional exclusion through self-insertion into the canon.
Scenes and Takes (2016) and Painting the Town (2021), which address representation in Hollywood and urban iconography.
Major video installations such as The Shape of Things (2021) and Leave Now! (2022), immersing audiences in poetic and political visual storytelling.

Together, these works chart a personal and cultural journey that resists silence, illuminating the lived realities of Black experience in America and beyond.

How Is the Exhibition Framed by Gallerie d’Italia’s Mission?

According to Michele Coppola, Executive Director for Art, Culture and Historical Heritage at Intesa Sanpaolo, this exhibition aligns with the bank’s broader commitment to social engagement through culture: “Through Weems’ images, the Gallerie d’Italia become a vibrant space for reflection on crucial themes, from identity to social equality.”

The Turin museum, opened in 2022 and dedicated to photography and video art, has become a leading venue for international commissions. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as JR, Paolo Pellegrin, Mitch Epstein, and Cristina Mittermeier.

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Carrie Mae Weems in Turin

What are the exhibition dates? From 17 April to 7 September 2025.
Where is the exhibition held? Gallerie d’Italia – Turin, Piazza San Carlo 156.
Is the exhibition part of a larger event? Yes, it’s part of the EXPOSED Torino Photo Festival.
What is the ‘Preach’ installation about? It explores the spiritual heritage and activism of the Black church through photography and poetic text.
Are there special events or discounts? Yes. Until 2 June, visitors with a digital festival pass can access the exhibition for €5.

With its timely themes, poetic force, and historical depth, Carrie Mae Weems: The Heart of the Matter invites European audiences into a necessary conversation. It is both a celebration of Weems’ legacy and a powerful reminder of art’s ability to provoke, heal, and bear witness.