The Power of Color. Roberto Capucci at Villa Pisani, Italy
A new and powerful synergy between fashion and art takes shape within the historic halls of the magnificent Villa Pisani in Stra, Italy. From May to November 2nd, 2025, the exhibition “The Power of Color. Roberto Capucci” celebrates the creative genius of one of Italy’s most revolutionary fashion designers through a selection of works that transform the museum into an immersive and sensory experience.
LEFT: Roberto Capucci. Photo by Toni Thorimbert; RIGHT: Diaspro, 1995, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci
Roberto Capucci: Beyond Fashion, Toward Wearable Sculpture
Born in Rome in 1930, Roberto Capucci is regarded as one of the pioneers of contemporary Italian fashion. Since the 1950s, his vision has transcended the boundaries of traditional design to explore clothing as a true art form. Capucci redefined the very concept of the garment, transforming it into an autonomous structure, rich in volume, pleats, and vibrant colors. His creations—displayed in the world’s most important museums—are true sculptures in motion, capable of interacting with their surroundings like architectural works.
LEFT:Cinabro, 1995, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci; RIGHT: 1989, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci;
A Career That Has Shaped the History of Fashion and Art
Roberto Capucci’s journey is marked by pivotal milestones that have redefined the boundaries between fashion, art, and culture. His first trip to India in 1970 deeply influenced his chromatic poetics and marked a turning point in his creative evolution. That same year, Capucci made history by presenting his garments at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome—making him the first to bring fashion into a museum context. Among his most iconic works is the “Colonna” dress (1978), which broke away from traditional tailoring and embraced architectural form.
In the 1980s, Capucci ventured into the world of theatre and international exhibitions, expanding his influence beyond haute couture. The 1990s marked his recognition by major museums: from the landmark exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence (1990) to his participation in the Venice Biennale (1995)—the first time a fashion designer was included—where he presented twelve “Fabric Architectures.” His 1998 creation “Oceano” for the World Expo in Lisbon stands as one of his most representative sculptural works.
LEFT: 1992, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci; RIGHT:Oceano, 1998, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci
In the 2000s, Capucci established the Roberto Capucci Foundation and, in collaboration with the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, opened a dedicated museum at Villa Bardini in Florence, which remained active until 2017. During its ten years of activity, the museum hosted rotating exhibitions of the Foundation’s archive and workshops on haute couture craftsmanship. In 2011, after 56 years, he moved his atelier from Via Gregoriana to Foro Traiano. Since 2017, the Foundation and its complete archive have found a permanent home at Villa Manin in Passariano (UD), thanks to the collaboration with ERPAC, ensuring the preservation and promotion of Capucci’s artistic and cultural legacy.
Fashion and Architecture: A Dialogue with Villa Pisani
The choice to host the exhibition at Villa Pisani, a jewel of 18th-century Venetian architecture, is no coincidence. The residence, built by the noble Pisani family and decorated by masters such as Giambattista Tiepolo, welcomes Capucci’s garments into a setting of majestic elegance.
The encounter between these two dimensions—Capucci’s sculptural fashion and the historic monumentality of the villa’s interiors—creates a poetic dialogue that breathes new life into both fashion and architecture.
LEFT: 1992, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci; RIGHT: 1992, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci
The Curatorial Path: An Invitation to Discover Capucci and Villa Pisani
Curated by Enrico and Paolo Alvise Minio of the Fondazione Roberto Capucci and Francesco Trentini, the exhibition is promoted by the Direzione Regionale Musei Nazionali Veneto – Museo Nazionale di Villa Pisani, in collaboration with Suazes and the Fondazione Roberto Capucci. The project ideally follows last year’s exhibition dedicated to photographer Federico Garolla, organized in the same venue.
The exhibition unfolds across the ground floor and main floor of the Villa. The three rooms on the ground level focus on the theme of color in Capucci’s work. Upstairs, in the north and south antechambers, visitors will find a refined selection of preparatory drawings and archival photographs that offer insight into the artist’s creative process.
The symbolic heart of the exhibition, however, remains the Tiepolo Hall, where the wedding dress takes center stage as a visual homage to the Venetian painting tradition. “La forza del colore” is an experience of aesthetic transformation—a journey through eras and languages that blends the rigor of the past with the expressive freedom of the present.
LEFT: 2008, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci; RIGHT:Bougainville, 1989, photo by Claudia Primangeli, courtesy of Fondazione Roberto Capucci
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