La Superba: Genoa and The Wolfsoniana

History, art and design converge in La Superba: Genoa and The Wolfsoniana, an installation that explores the enduring connection between The Wolfsonian-FIU on Miami Beach and its sister institution, The Wolfsoniana, in Genoa, Italy.

Named for the city known as “La Superba,” the exhibition captures the cultural and artistic vitality of Genoa and its Riviera during the first half of the 20th century. Through paintings, travel posters, postcards, books and decorative arts from The Wolfsonian’s collection, visitors can trace the city’s evolution as a thriving mercantile and financial hub as well as a destination that inspired generations of artists, writers and collectors, including museum founder Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, Jr.

Highlights include Aurelio Craffonara’s 1931 travel poster Genova e la Riviera Italiana, John MacWhirter’s atmospheric The Old Harbor, Genoa – Morning (1909), Alberto Helios Gagliardo’s expressive La pietá umana (1946) and Alberto Issel’s exquisitely crafted Desk for a Lady (1901). Together, these works offer a vivid portrait of a city whose legacy of creativity and craftsmanship continues to resonate across continents.

Organized in celebration of The Wolfsoniana’s 20th anniversary, La Superba: Genoa and The Wolfsoniana underscores the ongoing cultural dialogue between Italy and the United States. Curated by Silvia Barisione, the exhibition is on view November 20–June 28 on the 6th floor of The Wolfsonian-FIU on Miami Beach.