BOoks – Bologna Art Books Festival

BOoks, the festival dedicated to art and artist books promoted by Danilo Montanari Editore, in collaboration with MAMbo - Museum of Modern Art of Bologna of the Civic Museums Sector of the Municipality of Bologna, is back for its third edition this year.

Overview

Born from the idea of not losing the legacy of two fundamental events in the sector - Artelibro, the Art Book Festival held in Bologna from 2003 to 2014, and FLAT - Fiera Libro Arte Torino, an international event that animated the Piedmontese capital from 2017 to 2019 - BOoks positions itself in a "lateral" segment, although not strictly an alternative to the art fair phenomenon. It aims to offer, through the book as a medium, content and opportunities that facilitate a direct relationship of knowledge and exchange between artists and collectors, without renouncing a market focus.

This year, the Sala delle Ciminiere at MAMbo will host 36 Italian and international exhibitors, including booksellers and publishers specializing in the field of art books and artists' books.

In this third edition, there are four exhibition focuses designed to highlight the quality and history of Italian art publishing. The first, Mario Diacono, The Bologna Years 1977-1979, curated by Fosca Ugoletti and Greta Virdis and created in collaboration with the Collezione Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, is a tribute to the writer, artist, and gallerist who was active in Bologna between 1977 and 1979—with a special focus on his partnership with Claudio Parmiggiani. The second is dedicated to Franco Guerzoni—a Modena-based artist with ties to Galleria Studio G7—and features a selection of his artist's books and multiples. The third, Mario Giacomelli. Books and Ephemera 1955-2025, commemorates the photographer and typographer on the centenary of his birth. It presents a selection of diverse materials from the Archivio della Libreria di Frusaglia that trace Giacomelli's artistic trajectory and critical acclaim: books, brochures, magazines, catalogs, and covers, ranging from the catalog of the first prize he won at the Castelfranco Veneto photography competition in 1955 to the cover of Art e Dossier from 2025. The fourth focus is dedicated to the Italian artist, writer, and essayist Gianni Emilio-Simonetti, a proponent of Situationism in Italy who also participated in the Fluxus art movement.

The festival's setup is designed to foster a convivial atmosphere that is open to dialogue. In fact, there will be a talks area dedicated to conversations and in-depth discussions. Specifically, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, the series Lo Stato dell’Arte (The State of the Art) will feature two panel discussions.

The first will involve Marcella Beccaria (Chief Curator and Curator of Collections at Castello di Rivoli, Turin), Diego Sileo (curator at PAC - Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, Milan), Eva Fabbris (director of Madre · museo d’arte contemporanea Donnaregina, Naples), and Lorenzo Balbi (director of MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna), all prominent figures in the museum field. The second will feature a dialogue between professionals who work at Italy's leading modern and contemporary art fairs: Davide Ferri (director of Arte Fiera, Bologna), Lorenzo Gigotti (curator of the Multiples section, Arte Fiera, Bologna), Laura Lamonea (director of ArtVerona, Verona), Nicola Ricciardi (director of miart, Milan), and Giulia Franchino (head of Offline Communication and Press Relations, Artissima, Turin). On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Franco Guerzoni will meet with Adele Ghirri, and Danilo Montanari will be in conversation with Beppe Ramina about the cultural and political context of Bologna in the 1970s, before opening up a debate with writer Luigi Ballerini on the figure of Mario Diacono.

A new feature this year is the festival section dedicated to artist's books created by students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, which aims to promote the next generation of authors and artists.

Danilo Montanari Editore will award a prize to the most deserving editorial project, thanks to the contribution of Banca di Bologna, which continues its prolific partnership with the museum in support of artistic and cultural projects.

BOoks is curated by Danilo Montanari and Lorenzo Balbi.

The key visual for the 2025 edition of BOoks has been entrusted to the artist Giuseppe De Mattia.

The exhibition initiative is part of Bologna Estate 2025, the calendar of activities promoted by the Municipality of Bologna and the Metropolitan City of Bologna - Bologna-Modena Tourist Territory.