Caselli 50

“Caselli 50”: A Major Exhibition in Lerici Marking Fifty Years Since the Master’s Passing
From October 10, Lerici Castle will host “Caselli 50,” an exhibition promoted by the Municipality of Lerici and curated by the Startè Association in collaboration with the Caselli Archive. Dedicated to the life and work of the master Giuseppe Umberto Caselli, the event marks the fiftieth anniversary of his death. The exhibition presents a journey through 50 works representative of the artist’s output, marking the return of a major monographic exhibition on Caselli to Lerici—ten years after “Con gli occhi di Caselli” (With Caselli’s Eyes), held in 2016 at San Terenzo Castle. Once again, the exhibition layout creates a dialogue between the artworks and their setting: Caselli’s pieces—deeply connected to the local landscape and history—find a perfect backdrop in the Castle that enhances their significance, while the presence of the art helps revitalize the venue’s cultural vocation.
The exhibition offers an in-depth look at the master’s artistic journey, drawing on the work of the Caselli Archive. Established by Startè in 2016, the Archive has spent years documenting and cataloging hundreds of pieces from public and private collections—including those owned by the Municipality of Lerici, from which the exhibited works have been selected. The exhibition explores key themes in Caselli’s artistic inquiry: from views of the local area and the Lerici coastline to the harrowing experience of imprisonment at the Mauthausen camp during the First World War, as well as portraits of figures from his era. The project is further enriched by a “widespread exhibition” initiative involving local businesses, bringing Caselli’s art into everyday spaces. Plans also include the publication of a dedicated catalog and a series of activities and workshops for children and young people. Alongside the exhibition activities, the work of the Caselli Archive and its scientific committee—comprising, among others, gallerist Cesare Cardelli and Professor Umberto Croppi—will continue, focusing on cataloging, studying, and promoting the master’s body of work.