Three Independent Spaces in Sicily Where Contemporary Experimentation Takes Place
New Places of Creative Research and Experimentation Between Palermo and Catania.
In the complex cultural landscape of Sicily, often characterized by great momentum as well as frequent setbacks, the observation of certain phenomena of experimentation and articulation of contemporary languages appears particularly intriguing. These initiatives are driven by artists, creatives, curators, and intellectuals who operate within independent spaces, both in terms of research and economic sustainability, representing a refreshing alternative to the "bourgeois" monotony that institutional settings often present.
has been active since 2015 and is artistically directed by the collective Genuardi/Ruta. Despite its small size, Ascensore serves as a powerful resonating chamber where artists from different generations, backgrounds, and perspectives engage in an open and intense dialogue with the local community, which responds with strong participation and enthusiasm.
Among its most compelling projects is the ongoing exhibition The Weakest Most Insignificant Wind is a Tornado, curated by Daniela Bigi and on display until April 25, 2025. This unique work, made of iron, polyester, acrylic, and printed forex, entirely occupies the space, forming a kind of launchpad into the unknown—a metaphor for individual fragility in relation to the collective.
‘Independent Creativity’ as part of ’Isola Coalitions. Laboratories of Culture, Creativity and Art', a project of Isola Catania winner of the public notice “Laboratory of Contemporary Creativity”, promoted by the Directorate General for Creativity Contemp
Workshop ‘I Carusi’ by Samuele Angemi, as part of the exhibition ‘Coltivazione sulfurea’ curated by Gabriele Logiudice. Catania, viaraffineria 2024. Ph Marco Lo Curzio, courtesy viaraffineria
‘Fudda - festa delle intersezioni’ edition 2024, view of the kiosk set up during the workshop “Eaten by the sun” by Daniel Fonatti and Julia Walk. Catania, viaraffineria 2024. Ph. Stefania Mazzara, courtesy viaraffineria
Davide Mineo, Schema Plastico, curated by Alessia Coppolino, exhibition view, L'Ascensore, Palermo. PH Filippo M. Nicoletti
Acquacotta, Tiziana La Melia, curated by Claudia Gangemi, 2024/2025, courtesy of ALL, from the exhibition Acquacotta by Tiziana La Melia, curated by Claudia Gangemi.
Not far away, still in Palermo, is ALL, a former street-side workshop near the Vucciria, featuring stucco vaults and narrow, corridor-like rooms. For just over a year, it has also served as the studio and research space of artist Adriano La Licata, in collaboration with Cristina Giarnecchia. Here, projects and exchanges of ideas are shaped by a free-spirited vision with a touch of the surreal, adding a vibrant energy to the space. Young international artists and curators frequently develop unexpected hypotheses, stimulating the local scene.
The latest event at ALL was Acquacotta by Tiziana La Melia, curated by Claudia Cangemi in February 2025. This fresh and ironic exhibition sought to dismantle the obviousness of objects through an inverted narrative of their function.
‘The Hamlet Machine’, a concert opera by Desperate Housewaifs. Catania, viaraffineria 2024. Ph Giuseppe Guarrera, courtesy viaraffineria
‘Alla Romana’, a format by Panopticon Zine as part of “Stendalì - suonano ancora | una sagra contemporanea”, curated by Ilaria Leonetti and Rosita Ronzini. Catania, viaraffineria 2023. Ph Francesco Enriquez, courtesy viaraffineria
‘Independent Creativity’ as part of ’Isola Coalitions. Laboratories of Culture, Creativity and Art’, a project by Isola Catania winner of the public notice “Laboratorio di Creatività Contemporanea”, promoted by the General Directorate for Contemporary Cre
Miriam Laura Leonardi, THE GIFT, curated by Samuel Gross, 2019, plexiglass,exhibition view. The Elevator Palermo. PH Filippo M. Nicoletti
Acquacotta, Tiziana La Melia, curated by Claudia Gangemi, 2024/2025, courtesy of ALL, from the exhibition Acquacotta by Tiziana La Melia, curated by Claudia Gangemi.
Moving to the eastern part of the island, another cultural hub is Catania, home to one of the most active independent realities: VIARAFFINERIA. Founded in 2019 as a non-profit independent space by Giulia Caruso, Maria Vittoria Di Sabatino, and Gabriele Lo Giudice, VIARAFFINERIA is located in a former spare parts warehouse in the ex-industrial area, not far from the famous Ciminiere. The space hosts visual and performing arts collaborations both in Italy and abroad, with a mission to decentralize culture from canonical spaces and promote contemporary art research projects.
VIARAFFINERIA defines itself as being in continuous evolution—a physical and symbolic place for experimentation. Among its numerous initiatives and collaborations, two recent events stand out: Creatività Indipendente, held in March 2025 at Isola Catania, was a spontaneous incubator of ideas featuring talks, workshops, and debates aimed at actively reflecting on the needs and resources of the territory. Additionally, in August 2025, VIARAFFINERIA curated the visual arts section for the MAST Festival in Scicli.
Cover image: Workshop ‘I Carusi’ by Samuele Angemi, as part of the exhibition ‘Coltivazione sulfurea’ curated by Gabriele Logiudice. Catania, viaraffineria 2024. Ph Marco Lo Curzio, courtesy viaraffineria
Agata Polizzi (1976) is Sicilian, lives and works in Palermo. Art historian and independent curator, PhD in History of architecture and conservation of architectural heritage, since 2011 he is a freelance journalist and correspondent for specialized art magazines. He taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Palermo from 2004 to 2006 as an adjunct professor of Cultural Anthropology. He has curated exhibitions and publications for public and private museum institutions. He collaborates on contemporary research and projects with artists, cultural subjects and foundations at national and international level. Since 2019 he is the editorial director of My Art Guide, Italy. In 2019 he was adjunct curator of BAM Biennale Arcipelago Mediterraneo. He is guest curator at the Francesco Pantaleone Gallery of Contemporary Art Palermo / Milan. Since 2017 he has been curator of the visual arts section of the Migrant Literature Festival. He is a consultant for the Swiss Institute of Rome. He was the curatorial coordinator of ZACentrale in Palermo fand has collaborated with the Fondazione Mario Merz in Turin since 2014.
