From July 12 to September 14, Loggia degli Abati

With the largest exhibition ever dedicated to his work, Palazzo Ducale explores the world of Jacopo Benassi – named “Artist of the Year” by Artribune magazine – showcasing all of his most iconic subjects: from portraits to underground music venues, from the most banal everyday objects to fragments of nature.

The exhibition focuses on the artist’s recent production, highlighting the key stages that led him to develop a personal, complex, and highly recognizable language blending photography, sculpture, and performance. Through a series of large-scale installations that weave together some of Benassi’s best-known works with previously unseen productions, the show poses a profound question about the role of photography today and its ability to endure and engage with contemporary culture.

Images are cut, overlapped, inverted, and hidden within a display design created specifically for the spaces of Palazzo Ducale, encouraging viewers to seek their own perspective while simultaneously frustrating their expectations. In an era of hyper-visibility, Benassi paradoxically uses photography as an ambiguous and opaque tool, one that does not simply render the world visible but shatters it into a series of dark and unpredictable visions, teetering on the edge between appearance and disappearance.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of live performances held in a dedicated area within the exhibition space.

The project is preceded by an artist residency at Palazzo Ducale, resulting from a call for proposals issued by the Ministry of Culture. The association Blu Breeding and Learning Unit – winner of the selection – will create a photographic work during the residency, to be included in the exhibition and later donated to the Museum of Contemporary Art Villa Croce. During the residency, Jacopo Benassi will also host talks, workshops with students, and a public performance.

The exhibition is organized by Palazzo Ducale Fondazione per la Cultura
Curated by Francesco Zanot

Jacopo Benassi is an Italian artist and photographer. Active since the 1980s, he began his research within the underground music scene, gradually developing a personal and direct visual language characterized by the use of flash and a raw, instinctive aesthetic.
His work spans photography, performance, painting, and installation, maintaining an intimate and material approach throughout. He has published numerous books and fanzines. He lives and works in La Spezia.

Tickets – click here to purchase online

From July 12 to July 31, 2025
Exhibition + State Rooms
Full price €5
Reduced €3

From August 1 to September 14, 2025
Exhibition + Doge’s Chapel and State Rooms
Full price €8
Reduced €6
Ducale+ Card reduced price €5

Opening hours
Monday closed
Tuesday to Sunday 11 AM – 7 PM
Holidays: Friday, August 15, 11 AM – 7 PM

Ticket office hours
Tuesday to Sunday 11 AM – 1 PM and 2 PM – 6 PM

Please note: closures of the State Rooms for private events will be communicated at the ticket office.