The Wolfsonian-FIU Marks 30th Anniversary with Two Exhibitions Extended Through July 2026

The Wolfsonian-Florida International University (FIU) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with two exhibitions that highlight the global legacy of modern design and honor its Italian sister institution. Curated by Wolfsonian chief curator Silvia Barisione, Modern Design Across Borders and La Superba: Genoa and The Wolfsoniana have been extended on view through July 19, 2026, at the museum's Miami Beach location.  

Modern Design Across Borders explores the cross-cultural networks, ideas, and movements that drove the international reach of modern design. The exhibition focuses on five specific subjects within interwar design: transportation, the 1925 Paris Exposition, tea and coffee culture, plywood, and cocktail culture. Drawing primarily from the Wolfsonian's permanent collection, the show features works by prominent designers including Norman Bel Geddes, Josef Hoffmann, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames. The display highlights the functional, geometric, and clean-lined aesthetics that came to define modern visual language.  

The second exhibition, La Superba, examines the industrial and cultural history of Genoa, Italy, during the first half of the 20th century. The presentation marks the 20th anniversary of Genoa-based sister institution The Wolfsoniana, highlighting the ongoing cultural connection between Italy and the United States. Through paintings, decorative arts, travel posters, and ephemera, the exhibition positions Genoa as a major 20th-century industrial hub.  

A central highlight of La Superba is the pairing of two related artworks shown together for the first time. The Wolfsoniana has loaned a preparatory study for La pietà umana by Alberto Helios Gagliardo to be displayed alongside the finished painting from the Wolfsonian’s own collection. This pairing fulfills a foundational objective of museum founder Mitchell "Micky" Wolfson, who established collections in the port cities of Miami and Genoa to create an international cultural bridge.  

For more information, visit: wolfsonian.org.  

By ML Staff. Image courtesy of The Wolfsonian-FIU.