From Pop to Eternity

A solo exhibition paying tribute to one of Pop Art’s most innovative and representative artists – painter, writer, composer, pianist and producer Mark Kostabi, born in Los Angeles in 1960 to Estonian immigrants.

Curated by Gianfranco Rosini and organized by Rome’s Municipio IX, with the organizational support of Roma Capitale and the collaboration of Zètema Progetto Cultura, the exhibition confirms the central role played by the La Vaccheria cultural space in the dissemination of modern and contemporary art. A year ago, the cultural space, which opened in 2002 in the EUR district, officially became the “Home of Pop Art”.

The sculptures, oil paintings and drawings on display come from the artist’s personal collection and the Rosini Gutman Collection. They offer visitors an interesting insight into Mark Kostabi’s long artistic career, from his beginnings in the 1980s (with drawings such as Ascent to Street Level and St Peter’s Mistake), to masterpieces from the following decade such as The Rhythm of Inspiration and The Studio System, and more recent works such as Gaming the Course of History and Facing the Truth, created in collaboration with his brother Paul.

The extensive body of work on display (over 100 pieces) represents an unmissable opportunity both to appreciate the evolution of his artistic practice and to grasp his reflections on central themes. These include, for example, the commodification of art, art as a tool for communicating social and human challenges, and the role of the artist in the postmodern era, now on the threshold of the new cybernetic age.