In Praise of Frugality: The Exhibition Design of “Pompeo Pianezzola (1925–2012)” at the Civic Museums of Bassano

To mark the centenary of Pompeo Pianezzola’s birth, the Civic Museum of Bassano del Grappa is hosting a retrospective dedicated to the master of Italian ceramics, on view until September 7. The exhibition project, designed by ASA Studio Albanese, is rooted in a principle of elegant and measured frugality. Manaly oversaw the realization of the display, translating the studio’s ideas into tangible and coherent spaces. A bespoke intervention in the service of art. Read on for the full case study and an in-depth look at the exhibition!

Context
Company
Objective
Solution
pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025
Pompeo PIanezzola

Context

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Pompeo Pianezzola’s birth (1925–2012), the Civic Museum of Bassano del Grappa is presenting a major exhibition from May 31 to September 7, 2025, celebrating one of the most significant figures in postwar Italian ceramics. Curated by Nico Stringa, the show features 120 works tracing the full arc of Pianezzola’s career: from his early paintings and initial ceramics, to his iconic majolica shields and multiplied works, to his artist’s books and homage to Canova. An eclectic artist shaped by his experiences between Nove and Venice, Pianezzola gained international recognition with the support of figures such as Gio Ponti and Licisco Magagnato. His work developed in constant dialogue with major contemporaries—from Burri to Fontana—and deeply reflects the cultural and social transformations of Italy from the postwar period to the new millennium. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue published by Antiga Edizioni and supported by the PIELLE24 Foundation. It is promoted by the Municipality and the Civic Museums of Bassano del Grappa, under the patronage of the Veneto Region.

pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025
pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025

Company

ASA Studio Albanese, founded by Flavio Albanese in 1971 and led since 1987 together with his brother Franco, is today one of Italy’s leading architectural firms. The studio is known for its multidisciplinary approach that integrates architecture, interior design, and visual research. Over more than three decades, ASA has carried out high-profile projects featured in major industry publications, including: the Neores headquarters (2000), a Mies van der Rohe Award finalist in 2003; the Vicenza Trade Fair (2008); the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort for Rocco Forte Hotels (2009); La Rinascente in Palermo (2010); Lindower22 in Berlin; and the HTM Hybrid Tower in Venice (2016). Since 2018, the studio has curated the global store design for Thom Browne, and in 2019 launched the Villas Masterplan for the Verdura Resort. ASA has also participated in the Venice Architecture Biennale (2005, 2007) and international projects such as the concept for Beijing’s historic center. The studio is led by Flavio Albanese, with Franco Albanese as technical director and Piero Corradin as project manager.

pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025
pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025
pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025

16

Colors

338

m² of color

120

Works exhibited

Objective

The “Pompeo Pianezzola 1925–2012” exhibition was conceived with a highly simple design, in keeping with the nature of the artist’s chosen medium—ceramics—a humble, primordial material elevated to art through creative intelligence. The principle of frugality inspired the reuse of much of the previous exhibition setup, guided by a philosophy of economy and restraint. However, some significant and character-defining variations were introduced. — Flavio Albanese – ASA Studio Albanese

pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025
pompeo pianezzola-manaly_musei_civici_bassano_2025

Solution

First, two simple partition walls were constructed to reconfigure the otherwise undefined open space, introducing the architectural and poetic matrix of "rooms." These walls also define an atrium, distinguished by a single shade of red covering both floor and walls, which hosts the artist’s early paintings in a salon-style arrangement. Second, several central display tables were set up and draped in white fabrics of varying textures and materials, echoing the diverse nature of the artworks on show. These "tables with tablecloths" directly reference the themes of the table, sharing, and conviviality—concepts historically and intrinsically linked to ceramics. — Flavio Albanese – ASA Studio AlbaneseAt Manaly, we gave physical form to this project by realizing the architectural elements envisioned by ASA Studio Albanese. We managed the entrance area and the entire atrium, physically constructing the two dividing walls, laying red carpeting on the floor, and painting the walls in the same red hue. We also repainted all vertical surfaces, working on an existing base and following the project’s chromatic and material guidelines. Always in synergy with the client, we created the central display surfaces—the so-called “tables with tablecloths”—as well as additional display elements such as totems, partitions, and supports, helping to give the exhibition a unified spatial identity and coherent visitor experience.