Hosted by the courtyard of Palazzo delle Papesse, the HAPPENING opens its doors to the city of Siena. The show will feature a series of works created by a group of 11 young artists and curators participating in THE PEACE ROOM ’26 project from all over the world: from Canada to Georgia, to Italy, Latvia, Serbia and the US.
The works will transform the space not just visually but also by creating content that the visitors can actively interact with. Made using an array of different media including: oil painting, ceramics, wood, fibres and water and more, the pieces are inspired by the artists’ personal experience and artistic journey and explore themes such as consumerism, loss and trauma, creation, comfort and existentialism.
The HAPPENING
📅 09 MAR 2026 h. 15.00-17.00
📍Palazzo delle Papesse, Via di Città 126, Siena | Free Entry
The space
The HAPPENING will use and re-shape the courtyard of Palazzo delle Papesse, starting from its pre-existing elements and morphing them to incorporate the physical elements into the concept of the works.
Curator’s note
The Happening brings together eleven artists presenting a wide range of approaches, materials, and ideas within the courtyard of the Palazzo delle Papesse. While each work emerges from a distinct personal perspective, together they form a moment of shared exploration.
The exhibition invites visitors to encounter the diversity of artistic practices within the group, from sculpture and installation to interactive and narrative works. Each piece reflects the individual concerns, processes, and curiosities of its maker, offering a glimpse into how different artists observe and respond to the world around them.
Presented in the everyday environment of the courtyard café, the works exist in dialogue not only with one another but also with the people who pass through the space. The Happening becomes an opportunity to pause, look closely, and experience the variety of ways artists interpret their surroundings.
Olivia Nesterenko (THE PEACE ROOM ’26 participant and curator of The HAPPENING)
THE PEACE ROOM project has been created with the contribution of the Region of Tuscany and GiovaniSì within the Toscanaincontemporanea2025 program.
