“Della Pittura” collective is a group of artists founded by Laura Grosso and comprised of leading figures in the contemporary art scene who have distinguished themselves through their unique aesthetics, is actively participating in Peace Day, an event promoted by RAW, a renowned platform dedicated to promoting art and culture in Rome. In this special setting, “Della Pittura” collective presents the exhibition “I See Peace,” a project born from the encounter between Laura Grosso and Anthony Lombardi, curated by Giovanni Lauricella.
The title “ See Peace” is immediately striking for its evocative power, suggesting an intense experience that invites the public to explore the many nuances of a theme as universal as it is complex. The event offers a unique opportunity to discover, through the language of art, the infinite interpretations of a fundamental value like peace, translated into pictorial works capable of reaching the depths of human emotion and uniting individual and collective visions.
RAW, always committed to organizing cultural events in the heart of Rome, once again confirms its role as a key player for artists and art lovers. The exhibition not only celebrates peace through artistic expression, but also stimulates profound reflection on what it represents in today’s world. “I See Peace” thus becomes a shared space where thoughts, colors, and emotions intertwine, creating a virtuous bridge between artistic creativity and social commitment.
-The exhibition in brief.-
Laura Grosso’s painting practice is not based on predefined concepts. The theme of peace, rather than emerging directly through a descriptive narrative, manifests itself implicitly and is intuited in the creative process. This translates into a pictorial representation that, going beyond superficial appearances, aims to mediate between opposites, embracing contrasts and connecting them.
In the figurative compositions, and particularly in the “Humans” cycle (2011–2026), a reworking of the historical theme of the “Bathers,” pictorial language takes on a central role. The intent is not to simply describe the visible image, but to focus on the observation of light and its relationship with representation. Light, here, becomes a transformative element that transcends traditional perspective coordinates, configuring a new space in which naked bodies coexist in a dynamic balance of relationships.
The use of the nude in Laura Grosso’s work does not respond to the logic of exhibitionism nor does it present itself as an individual idealization. On the contrary, it expresses the shared vulnerability of human beings in their common root: water. The nude, evoking its original meaning in ancient Greek culture, represents a primordial and universal measure, an intrinsic limit to the human condition.
The theme of peace finds a more explicit expression in “Boxers” (2023), a work subtitled with a biblical verse: “They shall learn war no more…” (Isaiah 2:4), a clear reference to the messianic era. In this composition, the clash between two male figures is captured in an instant of almost choreographic dynamism, similar to a dance. Counteracting this tension is a female figure who, with her eyes closed, walks away from the scene toward the painting’s exit, suggesting abandonment and detachment.
Seeking peace with a traditional, dualistic perspective, which instinctively tends to sympathize with one of the opposing parties, proves insufficient. What is needed is a “conversion of perspective,” a process that allows us to view conflict no longer as an unsolvable problem, but as a precious opportunity to achieve harmony. It is necessary to reorganize perspectives through creative mediation capable of generating a new worldview, similar to the generative potential that characterizes the feminine dimension of gestation.
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Anthony Lombardi’s canvas painting “Baccanale” offers a surprising interpretation of the concept of peace, using imagery that, at first glance, seems to evoke chaos. The nude figures, immersed in a landscape of urban ruins, move freely, as if dancing in an atmosphere reminiscent of recent destruction. Their gestures, suspended between playfulness and ambiguity, convey a sense of liberation from social constraints and systemic violence.In this representation, peace is not expressed through order or the canons of traditional harmony, but as a primordial and instinctive state, in which human beings reconnect with their purest essence. Symbolic objects and weapons, emptied of their destructive meaning, become part of a collective ritual celebrating a renewed unity.
The underlying message suggests that authentic peace, though fragile and imperfect, can only exist by breaking the mechanisms that fuel conflict. It’s a vision of peace that doesn’t aspire to perfection, but finds its strength in individual freedom and the rediscovery of shared humanity. The evening will conclude with a poetic intervention by Giovanni Lauricella. Paintings by Laura Grosso and Anthony Lombardi, Open studio with poetic performance.
Venerdì 24 aprile
0re 17-20
Studio Laura Grosso
via Suvereto 30
00135 Roma