Medium and Message Exhibition Opened at MoMA PS1
The showcase highlights how printed materials shaped the influential Arte Povera movement.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Fine Art
Live Poll
Do you prefer art exhibitions that feature original works or the history of their creation?
Magazzino Italian Art presented the exhibition Medium and Message at MoMA PS1 during the 20th annual Printed Matter NY Art Book Fair. The display reconstructs the historical circulation of conceptual art ideas through books and catalogues.
Why it matters
This exhibition underscores the critical role printed matter played in disseminating the core concepts of the Arte Povera movement. By archival exploration, it reveals how artists utilized book formats to advance independent projects beyond traditional canvas.
The exhibition features materials from a research center containing more than 5,000 volumes. It arrives during the 20th edition of the NY Art Book Fair.
The players
Magazzino Italian Art
An art museum and research center located in Cold Spring that specializes in postwar and contemporary Italian art.
MoMA PS1
A contemporary art institution located in Long Island City, Queens, that is an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art.
Germano Celant
An influential Italian art historian and critic who famously coined the term Arte Povera to describe the radical artistic movement.
The details
The exhibition is organized into three sections covering publications, exhibition catalogues, and artists' books featuring works by Alighiero Boetti, Luciano Fabro, Jannis Kounellis, Mario Merz, Giuseppe Penone, and Michelangelo Pistoletto. It builds upon the historical context of the 1985 exhibition The Knot: Arte Povera, which was curated by Germano Celant at the same venue.
Timeline
1967: Germano Celant coined the term Arte Povera.
1985: The Knot: Arte Povera exhibition was held at P.S.1.
September 24-27, 2026: The 20th edition of Printed Matter's NY Art Book Fair took place.
Industry Dynamics
The exhibition follows a pattern set by the 1985 The Knot: Arte Povera exhibition. By returning to the same venue, it reflects the ongoing institutional effort to contextualize historic conceptual movements for new generations of art book collectors.
Attendees of the 20th annual Printed Matter NY Art Book Fair gained direct access to this curated archival display at MoMA PS1. Visitors can engage with historical artists' books and materials that were previously held within the Magazzino research center.
The takeaway
Understanding how Arte Povera artists used books as independent mediums offers insight into the evolution of conceptual art. This exhibition invites viewers to appreciate how text and sequence function as essential components of an artist's broader creative narrative.
Further reading
Discover more about the local art scene in our Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by La Voce di New York.
Live Poll
Do you prefer art exhibitions that feature original works or the history of their creation?
