“From A to B. Artistic Handicraft Meets Alighiero Boetti” Exhibition organized by the Maestri Artifex

The exhibition “From A to B. Artistic Handicraft Meets Alighiero Boetti”, produced in collaboration with the Maestri Artifex association, brings together thirteen Italian master craftsmen, working in a creative dialogue with the work of Alighiero Boetti, exploring the boundaries between contemporary art and craftsmanship.

Vernissage – Thursday June 18^th at 6pm – RSVP

Exhibition
June 19th – July 30th 2026
Free Admission
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Montréal 1200, av. du Dr Penfield

At the heart of this exhibition, thirteen leading figures of Italian artisanal excellence engage in a dialogue with the work of Alighiero Boetti, exploring the subtle boundary between contemporary art and the exceptional mastery of fine craftspeople. At the centre of this exchange, everyday objects created through traditional techniques acquire a new artistic dimension, with art understood here as a form of creative expression capable of conveying ideas and emotions.

In both worlds, technical mastery is fundamental. Far from merely applying skills refined over time, artisans deploy their creativity to bring to life works of extraordinary beauty. This encounter celebrates the synergy between art and craftsmanship, demonstrating how deeply these two practices nourish and inspire one another.

Through unique works created by master artisans representing diverse fields of Italian excellence, this project explores the fertile territory where art, material, and creative thought converge. It reveals that technical expertise is not merely a matter of execution, but also a language of expression, research, and creative force.

Alighiero Boetti (Turin, 1940 – Rome, 1994), one of the leading representatives of Arte Povera and a major figure in Italian conceptual art of the second half of the twentieth century, developed an artistic practice rooted in the notions of order and disorder, play, language, connection, and multiplicity. Inspired by this conceptual universe, each work in the exhibition freely reinterprets a fragment of his imagination. Combining traditional techniques with contemporary sensibilities, these creations establish a dialogue between artisanal heritage and artistic vision.

The works on display celebrate timeless craftsmanship, elevated by the innovative spirit and creative boldness of the invited master artisans: Bianco Bianchi, Caporali, Vanessa Cavallaro, Sileno Cheloni, Fonderia Artistica Leonardo Del Giudice, Fabscarte, Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio, Pino Grasso Ricami, HF, L’Ippogrifo Stampe d’Arte, Gabriele Maselli, Saskia, and Leonardo Scarpelli.