by InTrieste
The University of Trieste has officially opened a new art gallery within the Library of the Department of Humanities, located at Via del Lazzaretto Vecchio 8. The gallery showcases more than 100 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs by both local and internationally recognized artists.
Among the featured names are Tullio Vietri, Giovanni Pulze, Arturo Rietti, Marcello Mascherini, Cy Twombly, Serse Roma, and Giacinto Cerone. The pieces were donated to the university as part of the initiative A Trieste mi piaceva tornare (“I liked returning to Trieste”), a campaign launched in celebration of the university’s centennial anniversary.
The gallery also includes ten contemporary works — mixed media pieces and installations — created through the artist-in-residence program #SBLAD – Shine Bright Like A Diamond. Initially conceived for the centennial, the program invited artists to contribute new pieces to the university’s growing collection.
While the exhibition space currently serves the university community, plans are in place to eventually open it to the broader public. The initiative is part of a broader effort by the University’s Museum System (smaTs) to expand its cultural offerings and build on the legacy of the university’s 1953–54 Art Exhibition, held on campus.
To mark the centenary, the university launched the Donors ’24 project, inviting artists and collectors to contribute to a new permanent collection. Selected works from these donations were first displayed in the summer of 2024 at the Bastione Fiorito in the historic Castle of San Giusto.
With the opening of this new gallery, the University of Trieste aims to preserve and promote the artistic contributions received during its centennial celebrations — ensuring that the generosity of artists and collectors continues to be appreciated by future generations.
