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Hauser & Wirth is expanding again — this time to Palermo, where the gallery is preparing to open its first permanent space in Italy inside a dramatic neo-Gothic palace overlooking the sea. It marks the 18th location for the powerhouse and introduces a new chapter in its habit of embedding contemporary art inside historic, often unconventional environments.
The new space will take over the Palazzo Forcella De Seta, a 19th-century structure whose past reads like a compressed history of Palermo itself. Over the decades, it has shifted from aristocratic residence to cultural hub, from early private gallery to mid-century nightlife haunt, and even to government offices. Most recently, it resurfaced in the art world as one of the standout venues of Manifesta 12, where its faded grandeur became part of the exhibition’s narrative.
Hauser & Wirth’s president, Iwan Wirth, described the project as an opportunity to revive a building long woven into the city’s cultural fabric. His vision leans toward creating a new Mediterranean art destination, anchored in a location known for centuries of cross-cultural exchange.
The gallery has secured roughly 21,000 square feet of the site — including the palazzo’s soaring main level, which will serve as the primary exhibition space, as well as additional wings and an adjacent structure planned for offices. Renovation and programming details have yet to be revealed, but the scale alone hints at a major investment in the city’s artistic future.
This move aligns with Hauser & Wirth’s ongoing strategy of transforming historically significant sites — seen in projects in Somerset, Menorca, and Los Angeles — into contemporary art centers that blend local heritage with global audiences.