
By Martina Olivo. Cover image courtesy of BIAF.
The 33rd edition of the Florence International Biennial of Antiques (BIAF), scheduled from September 28 to October 6, 2024, at Palazzo Corsini, is a key event in the international and Italian art scene. Featuring 80 galleries, including 14 new international exhibitors, BIAF 2024 edition is known for its prestigious status as one of the most prestigious fairs. The exhibition showcases an exceptional range of ancient and modern art, with renowned galleries and emerging gallerists. This edition also highlights contemporary works, with galleries like Richard Saltoun focusing on postwar artists. Social events such as gala dinners and charity auctions further elevate the BIAF 2024 experience, making it a major gathering for collectors, curators, and art lovers alike. Alongside historical art, there will be a fine selection of contemporary art galleries. Don’t miss our top picks!
BIAF 2024: 6 ART GALLERIES TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR VISIT
1. FRASCIONE GALLERY
The Frascione collection was established in 1893 by Enrico Frascione. Today, the business is in its fourth generation, led by Enrico’s great-grandson, Federico Gandolfi Vannini. Federico, carrying on a family passion, has been able to enrich and expand the centenary heritage. In 2009, the Frascione Arte Gallery opened in Florence on Via Maggio under his guidance. The gallery specialises in Italian paintings from the 14th to the 17th century, with a focus on the works of the Tuscan school. It frequently collaborates with important art historians and publishes research results in a ‘Cahier’ series. Through targeted exhibitions and installations, the gallery contributes to the cultural life of the city. Over the years, it has built a network of relationships with museums and private collectors in Europe, Asia and America. Via Maggio 5.
2. GALLERIA POGGIALI
Galleria Poggiali was established in 1984 and has been dedicated to showcasing contemporary since its inception. The gallery’s exhibitions place a strong emphasis on the artist behind the project while also highlighting the connection between historical figures and new generations. It showcases various types of exhibitions, including photography with works by international artists such as David LaChapelle, as well as painting and new media. It aims to convey a message of avant-garde while reflecting on the legacy left by the past. The gallery features globally renowned artists who have long been established in the art world, such as Enzo Cucchi and Gilberto Zorio, as well as emerging artists like Luca Pignatelli, Giovanni Frangi, and Piero Pizzi Cannella. The gallery was part of a project to redevelop the city of Florence called Primo Vere. The main goal of the project was to demonstrate that the capital of Tuscany is an ever-evolving artistic laboratory, just as it was in the past. Via della Scala 35/a / Via Benedetta 3/r.
3. GIAN ENZO SPERONE
Gian Enzo Sperone is known for always being ahead of the curve. The gallery that bears his name was founded in Turin in 1964 and later opened branches in Rome in 1971 and New York in 1972. As a gallery owner and collector, Sperone believes in the dialogue between various works of art, which individually represent a stage or a piece but together tell a story. A constant journey, never separating the author from the artwork. His artistic philosophy was very simple: a work of art cannot exist without the artist, as one reflects the other; every work of art offers a unique glimpse into the life of its creator. For over 40 years, his artistic genius has also extended overseas, with a branch in New York that has hosted artists from all over the world for nearly half a century.
4. TORNABUONI ARTE
It is no coincidence that Tornabuoni Arte is located in Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, named after the great artist from the Mannerism period. Roberto Casamonti founded the gallery in Florence in 1981, drawing on the rich intellectual legacy passed down from his father. The gallery has a distinct focus on Modern and Contemporary Art, and over the years, it has expanded its vision to Rome, Milan, Paris, and London. One of its main activities involves organising travelling exhibitions at its major locations across Italy and Europe, connected by strong thematic ties. The artistic lineup is quite diverse, featuring world-renowned artists from the 20th century, such as Jean Dubuffet, Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. There is also a strong representation of Italian artists from the early and mid-20th century, including Giacomo Balla, Alighiero Boetti, Alberto Burri, and Enrico Castellani. Today, the gallery continues to focus on the two paths it embarked on at its founding: the ongoing exploration of 20th-century art and modern avant-garde, always maintaining its dual focus. Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini 3.
5. FARSETTI
Farsettiarte was established in 1955 by Frediano and Franco Farsetti in Prato as an art gallery, and it immediately distinguished itself through prestigious exhibitions. In 1962, the auction house was opened, attracting immediate interest from collectors and the art market. The gallery and auction house developed concurrently, and while complementing each other, have always maintained their independence, creating something unique in the Italian art market. The gallery expanded over the years, with branches opening in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1964, Versilia in 1969, and Milan in 1982. Finally, in 1991, the new headquarters in Prato was inaugurated next to the Luigi Pecci Museum of Contemporary Art. This impressive and modern structure has helped intensify auction activities and large exhibitions, serving as the operational and coordinating hub of Farsettiarte. Viale della Repubblica (Area Museo Pecci).
6. GALLERIA CONTINUA
Galleria Continua was founded in 1990 by Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi and Maurizio Rigillo. The gallery was established with the intention, as implied by its name, of providing continuity for contemporary art in a landscape abundant with the remnants of ancient art. It found its home in a former cinema in the town of San Gimignano, a place steeped in history, timeless and magnificent. In 2004, Galleria Continua started a new venture in Beijing, China, exhibiting contemporary Western artists in an area where they are not often seen. Three years later, in 2007, Galleria Continua opened a unique site for large-scale creations called Les Moulins in the Parisian countryside. In 2015, Galleria Continua began a new endeavour by establishing a space in La Habana, Cuba, dedicated to cultural projects aimed at overcoming all boundaries. In 2020, coinciding with Galleria Continua’s thirtieth anniversary, they unveiled a new space in Rome committed to fostering intercultural exchange and new forms of dialogue and engagement between art and the public. In the same year, they also opened a space in São Paulo, situated inside the Pacaembu sports complex. In early 2021, a new space was inaugurated in Paris in the heart of the Marais, just a stone’s throw from the Centre Pompidou. Additionally, the gallery launched a space inside the most iconic hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, in Dubai during the same year. Via del Castello 11, San Gimignano