Highlights
Did you know?
The GAM in Turin boasts one of the most significant collections in the world of Arte Povera, the revolutionary artistic movement born right in Turin in the late 1960s.
The critic Germano Celant coined the term in 1967 to describe the work of a group of Italian artists - including Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis and Giuseppe Penone - who challenged the conventions of the art market by using poor and everyday materials such as rags, earth, stones and branches.
The permanent collection: from the nineteenth century to the avant-gardes
The itinerary of the GAM's permanent collection is a fascinating journey through two centuries of art history.
The museum preserves fundamental works of Italian Romanticism and Realism, including precious paintings by Massimo d'Azeglio, Antonio Fontanesi and Giacomo Grosso, artists who shaped the Piedmontese visual culture of the nineteenth century.
Particularly significant is the section dedicated to Divisionism, with masterpieces by Giovanni Segantini, Angelo Morbelli and Gaetano Previati.
Temporary exhibitions and the cultural life of the museum
The GAM has always been a driving centre of Turin cultural life thanks to its rich programme of temporary exhibitions which, throughout the year, bring to Turin great retrospectives dedicated to protagonists of international art, but also to young emerging artists and to transversal themes that put different eras and languages in dialogue.
Every year the museum renews its offering with high-profile exhibitions, capable of drawing visitors from all over Italy and abroad.
The Café and museum services
A visit to the GAM can be enriched by a stop at the Café della GAM, an elegant refreshment space located inside the museum, perfect for a regenerating break between one room and another.
The café offers a selection of drinks, snacks and light dishes in a refined environment that reflects the cultural vocation of the place.
A pleasant stop to absorb the emotions of an intense visit and prepare to explore the rest of the collection.
Located in the heart of Turin, on Via Magenta 31, the GAM occupies a Rationalist building inaugurated in 1959, designed with ample spaces. Inside, masterpieces of Italian Romanticism, Divisionism, the historic 20th-century avant-gardes and the most recent trends in international contemporary art coexist, making every visit a rich, surprising experience.
Related experiences
The permanent collection: from the 19th century to the avant-gardes
The route through the GAM's permanent collection is a fascinating journey through two centuries of art history. The museum holds fundamental works of Italian Romanticism and Realism, including precious paintings by Massimo d'Azeglio, Antonio Fontanesi and Giacomo Grosso, artists who shaped 19th-century Piedmontese visual culture. Particularly significant is the section dedicated to Divisionism, with masterpieces by Giovanni Segantini, Angelo Morbelli and Gaetano Previati.
The 20th century is richly represented: from De Chirico's Metaphysics to Futurism, from Italian Novecento to early abstract experimentation. The collection includes works by Paul Klee, Otto Dix, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and other masters of the European avant-gardes, testifying to the museum's international vocation. Also represented are the great protagonists of post-war Italian art, such as Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri and Mario Merz.
The contemporary section is enriched with video art, installations and fine-art photography, with particular attention to the Turin art scene which between the 1960s and 1970s gave rise to Arte Povera, one of the most influential movements of the late 20th century worldwide. Works by Jannis Kounellis, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Giuseppe Penone find a privileged place here.
Temporary exhibitions and the museum's cultural life
The GAM has long been a driving force in Turin's cultural life thanks to its rich programme of temporary exhibitions which throughout the year bring to Turin great retrospectives dedicated to international art protagonists, but also to emerging young artists and to cross-cutting themes that put different eras and languages in dialogue. Every year the museum renews its programme with high-profile exhibitions, drawing visitors from across Italy and abroad.
The museum has a Wunderkammer, an exhibition space dedicated to thematic groupings drawn from the permanent collection, often paired with works on loan from major international institutions. This format allows you to continually rediscover the wealth of the civic heritage through new readings and unexpected perspectives.
The GAM's cultural activities also include GAM Cinema, a quality film programme proposing auteur films, art documentaries and special screenings in dialogue with the current exhibitions. Educational workshops for children and families, themed guided tours and meetings with artists and critics complete an offer designed to engage diverse audiences.
The Café and museum services
A visit to the GAM can be enriched by a stop at the GAM Café, an elegant refreshment space inside the museum, perfect for a regenerating break between one room and another. The café offers a selection of drinks, snacks and light dishes in a refined setting that mirrors the place's cultural vocation.
The museum has a bookshop specialised in modern and contemporary art, where you can find exhibition catalogues, artist monographs, critical essays and prized publications. A reference point for collectors, students and art enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge or take home a quality memento of the visit. The bookshop also offers a wide selection of design objects inspired by museum works.
The GAM is equipped with all the services needed for a comfortable visit: cloakroom, audioguides available in several languages, accessible spaces for visitors with motor disabilities, family welcome area with strollers and high chairs.
Did you know? The GAM and Arte Povera
Turin's GAM boasts one of the world's most significant collections of Arte Povera, the revolutionary art movement born right here in Turin at the end of the 1960s. Critic Germano Celant coined the term in 1967 to describe the work of a group of Italian artists - including Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mario Merz, Jannis Kounellis and Giuseppe Penone - who challenged the conventions of the art market by using poor, everyday materials such as rags, earth, stones and branches. These works, today held at the GAM, forever changed the history of contemporary art.
Don't miss Pistoletto's Specchio and Mario Merz's installations with his Fibonacci numbers: they are among the museum's most iconic works and perfectly represent the spirit of a movement that turned Turin into one of the world capitals of contemporary art.