Stefano Bressani’s sculpture enters the Museum of Matera

On October 25, 2021, the National Museum of Matera welcomes into its permanent collection a sculpture by Stefano Bressani. A symbolic moment for contemporary art in Italy, linking the artist from Pavia with the Lucanian city—European Capital of Culture 2019. A recognition that confirms Matera as a place of dialogue between tradition and innovation.

Skultocity: art that lives within cities

Bressani’s sculpture enters the museum as the beating heart of the
Skultocity
project, born in Matera itself.
This artistic vision intertwines art, culture, and sustainability, weaving a network between Italian and international territories. The chosen medium is fabric—a living, symbolic material, emblematic of the renowned Sculture Vestite.

Here, sculpture is not only form but storytelling. Matera becomes the protagonist of a new artistic chapter, written through folds, textures, and colors.

The role of the museum and director Rossella Mauro

Essential was the openness of director Rossella Mauro, who recognized in Bressani’s work the ability to converse with the museum’s historical heritage while projecting it into a new cultural dimension.

With the inclusion of this piece, the MNM collection is enriched by a sculpture that speaks of memory and transformation, resonating with the cultural and social identity of the city.

A sculpture dressed in history and future

The work welcomed in Matera is crafted with fabrics and reassembled materials, typical of Bressani’s style.
Each element forms part of a narrative that unites art and craftsmanship, history and contemporaneity. Fabric is not decoration but a symbol of connection between past and present, between the city and its collective identity.

A universal language made of folds and seams

The sculpture offers a dynamic image of Matera: a city in motion, imbued with legend, beauty, and memory.
It invites reflection on the value of art as both a social and symbolic instrument.

Made in Italy, craftsmanship, and the culture of making

The work is also a tribute to the excellence of Made in Italy. Every stitch and material choice reflects the Italian culture of making. For Stefano Bressani, craftsmanship is narration—a form of beauty born from the land that speaks to the world.

A milestone for the artist and for contemporary art

The inclusion in the National Museum of Matera marks a crucial step in Bressani’s career and a strong signal for the future of contemporary art in Italy. Through a shared vision with local institutions, Matera strengthens its cultural role on the international stage.

The Skultocity project continues its path, carrying a powerful message: art can serve as a bridge between eras and places, transforming memory into creative energy.