John Giorno: The Performative Word

MAMbo – Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna presents “John Giorno: The Performative Word”, the first major institutional retrospective of the magnetic poet and performer John Giorno (New York, 1936–2019), curated by Lorenzo Balbi. On view from 5 February to 3 May 2026 in the Sala delle Ciminiere, the exhibition celebrates one of the most radical and visionary figures of contemporary culture.

A key figure in New York’s avant-garde, Giorno broke disciplinary boundaries, making poetry a living body and a gesture that could inhabit unexpected spaces. His collaborations with Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, William Burroughs, John Cage, and Patti Smith, and the founding of Giorno Poetry Systems in 1965, highlight his transformative impact on poetry, music, visual arts, political engagement, and community practice.

The exhibition traces Giorno’s multifaceted practice, showing how he expanded the poetic word into visual, relational, and performative territories. Works often replicate his poems across multiple supports, using carefully chosen colours and the iconic font created for him by Mark Michaelson. An archival section curated by Nicola Ricciardi and Eleonora Molignani complements the display, with an installation designed by EX (Andrea Cassi, Serena Giardina, Michele Versaci).

The exhibition is part of ART CITY Bologna 2026, in collaboration with Giorno Poetry Systems and Thomas Brambilla Gallery.