Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo: The Commissioner

In addition to the foundation's other two concurrent shows-a huge installation by Ludovica Carbotta, whose work can also be seen in the current edition of the Venice Biennale, and an exhibition drawing from a tiny fraction of her family's multimillion-euro, 1,000-plus-piece collection of global art-this latter exhibition is a rare opportunity to see her collection, which is normally not displayed here. Ida Gianelli, the director of Castello di Rivoli, which in the 1990s was the only museum of contemporary art in Italy; and the New Yorkand Chicago-based Italian art critic and curator Francesco Bonami, who served as the foundation's artistic director for 19 years. From the outset, the foundation's mission was to support young artists from around the world through collecting their works, providing exhibition opportunities and commissioning new pieces, along with nurturing the appreciation of contemporary art in Italy-at a time when cutting-edge art was not as visible as it is today-through cultural education programs.