Cristiana Perrella is the new president of the Accademia Pontificia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon
Jayde BrowneShare
With the appointment of Cristiana Perrella as president of the Accademia Pontificia di Belle Arti e Lettere dei Virtuosi al Pantheon, the Roman and Vatican cultural worlds celebrate a momentous transition in the dialogue between history and modernity. The news, greeted with enthusiasm in artistic and academic circles, marks the revitalization of one of Rome's oldest and most prestigious institutions, founded in the 16th century to promote the development of Letters and the Fine Arts and foster the spiritual elevation of artists. Perrella's appointment confirms the desire to reaffirm the Academy's role as a forum for dialogue between tradition and research, entrusting its direction to a leading figure in the national cultural scene.
La Pontificia Insigne Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon has been a crossroads of talent and ideas for centuries. Since its official founding on October 5, 1543, at the behest of Pope Paul III, its history has been marked by illustrious names such as Taddeo Zuccari, Vignola, Beccafumi, and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, joined over time by figures such as Pietro da Cortona, Algardi, Borromini, Velázquez, Juvarra, Canova, and Vanvitelli. Today, with fifty years of papally appointed ordinary academics divided into five classes of architects, painters, filmmakers, sculptors, musicians, art lovers, writers, and poets, the Academy maintains its interdisciplinary spirit, promoting the humanistic values that have always inspired the Church's artistic mission.
Revealing a clear strategy, Perrella's appointment aims at enhancing the dialogue between the historical-artistic legacy and the most contemporary creative trends. The Academy's president—focused primarily on convocation, representation, and coordination—manages all institutional relations: with the Vatican, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the other Pontifical Academies, and the diverse world of culture and art. His responsibilities extend to scientific and cultural activities, from planning exhibitions and conferences to launching innovative programs, always in harmony with the institution's primary mission: elevating the spirit through the arts and literature.
Perrella's commitment to an "open and inclusive" culture is also evident in her role as curator of the Conciliazione 5 program, a project launched on the occasion of the Jubilee, at the initiative of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, headed by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça. The program seeks to intensify the dialogue between contemporary art and spiritual heritage, forging new spaces for discussion that transcend traditional boundaries and embrace internationality. With this initiative, the Vatican is projecting the Academy into the future, supporting innovation and the intersection of different disciplines and generations.
Cristiana Perrella's career path is emblematic of her ability to combine curatorial vision, managerial experience, and academic sensitivity. Born in Rome in 1965, Perrella directed the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art in Prato from 2018 to 2021, bringing the institution to the center of Italian debate on new artistic practices and interdisciplinary experimentation. Her biography is intertwined with the city of Palermo, where she curated the Sicilian Contemporary Art Desk at the RISO Museum, and Bologna, home to the Marino Golinelli Foundation, promoter of the innovative Art and Science project.
At an international level, Perrella distinguished herself between 1998 and 2008 as curator of the Contemporary Arts Programme at the British School at Rome, and has collaborated with the MAXXI, the Valencia Biennial, IKSV Istanbul, Fondazione Prada, and other avant-garde institutions. She also teaches Management and Economics of the Arts at the San Raffaele University in Milan: a role that allows her to intertwine critical reflection and education, promoting a dynamic and global vision of cultural institutions. Her ability to engage with complex systems and her constant search for new forms of collaboration represent an added value for the entire academic community.
Perrella currently holds a dual role: while she assumes the leadership of the Pontifical Academy, in March 2025 the City of Rome has appointed her as artistic director of the MACRO museum. The goal is to redefine the institution's identity, connect the Roman scene with European realities, give a voice to young artists, and revitalize the capital as the epicenter of contemporary debate. These appointments demonstrate a growing confidence in his multidisciplinary and visionary approach, which places research and a positive impact on society at its core.
Perrella's appointment embodies the Vatican's desire to renew the dialogue between spirituality and contemporary artistic languages, projecting the historic Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon into the future of art and thought.Exhibition programs, scientific conference series, joint events between the Pontifical Academies, and international exchanges are expected in the coming months: these are essential tools to maintain the mission of improvement, spiritual elevation, and promotion of the humanistic values that underpin Rome's ecclesiastical and cultural identity.
The new presidency, drawing on experience gained in Italy and abroad, promises to meet the needs of an increasingly discerning public, attentive to the social and technological developments affecting the art world. Cristiana Perrella now finds herself at the crossroads of memory and innovation, tasked with highlighting the great names who have shaped the Academy's history and opening its doors to new protagonists, fresh visions, and bold projects.
La Pontificia Insigne Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon has been a crossroads of talent and ideas for centuries. Since its official founding on October 5, 1543, at the behest of Pope Paul III, its history has been marked by illustrious names such as Taddeo Zuccari, Vignola, Beccafumi, and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, joined over time by figures such as Pietro da Cortona, Algardi, Borromini, Velázquez, Juvarra, Canova, and Vanvitelli. Today, with fifty years of papally appointed ordinary academics divided into five classes of architects, painters, filmmakers, sculptors, musicians, art lovers, writers, and poets, the Academy maintains its interdisciplinary spirit, promoting the humanistic values that have always inspired the Church's artistic mission.
Revealing a clear strategy, Perrella's appointment aims at enhancing the dialogue between the historical-artistic legacy and the most contemporary creative trends. The Academy's president—focused primarily on convocation, representation, and coordination—manages all institutional relations: with the Vatican, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the other Pontifical Academies, and the diverse world of culture and art. His responsibilities extend to scientific and cultural activities, from planning exhibitions and conferences to launching innovative programs, always in harmony with the institution's primary mission: elevating the spirit through the arts and literature.
Perrella's commitment to an "open and inclusive" culture is also evident in her role as curator of the Conciliazione 5 program, a project launched on the occasion of the Jubilee, at the initiative of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, headed by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça. The program seeks to intensify the dialogue between contemporary art and spiritual heritage, forging new spaces for discussion that transcend traditional boundaries and embrace internationality. With this initiative, the Vatican is projecting the Academy into the future, supporting innovation and the intersection of different disciplines and generations.
Cristiana Perrella's career path is emblematic of her ability to combine curatorial vision, managerial experience, and academic sensitivity. Born in Rome in 1965, Perrella directed the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art in Prato from 2018 to 2021, bringing the institution to the center of Italian debate on new artistic practices and interdisciplinary experimentation. Her biography is intertwined with the city of Palermo, where she curated the Sicilian Contemporary Art Desk at the RISO Museum, and Bologna, home to the Marino Golinelli Foundation, promoter of the innovative Art and Science project.
At an international level, Perrella distinguished herself between 1998 and 2008 as curator of the Contemporary Arts Programme at the British School at Rome, and has collaborated with the MAXXI, the Valencia Biennial, IKSV Istanbul, Fondazione Prada, and other avant-garde institutions. She also teaches Management and Economics of the Arts at the San Raffaele University in Milan: a role that allows her to intertwine critical reflection and education, promoting a dynamic and global vision of cultural institutions. Her ability to engage with complex systems and her constant search for new forms of collaboration represent an added value for the entire academic community.
Perrella currently holds a dual role: while she assumes the leadership of the Pontifical Academy, in March 2025 the City of Rome has appointed her as artistic director of the MACRO museum. The goal is to redefine the institution's identity, connect the Roman scene with European realities, give a voice to young artists, and revitalize the capital as the epicenter of contemporary debate. These appointments demonstrate a growing confidence in his multidisciplinary and visionary approach, which places research and a positive impact on society at its core.
Perrella's appointment embodies the Vatican's desire to renew the dialogue between spirituality and contemporary artistic languages, projecting the historic Accademia dei Virtuosi al Pantheon into the future of art and thought.Exhibition programs, scientific conference series, joint events between the Pontifical Academies, and international exchanges are expected in the coming months: these are essential tools to maintain the mission of improvement, spiritual elevation, and promotion of the humanistic values that underpin Rome's ecclesiastical and cultural identity.
The new presidency, drawing on experience gained in Italy and abroad, promises to meet the needs of an increasingly discerning public, attentive to the social and technological developments affecting the art world. Cristiana Perrella now finds herself at the crossroads of memory and innovation, tasked with highlighting the great names who have shaped the Academy's history and opening its doors to new protagonists, fresh visions, and bold projects.