Data / Ora
Date(s) - 17/11/2025
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Luogo
Palazzo Castiglioni
Categorie
The new publication by A60 International Art, Writing as a Living Act: The Art and Literature of Stefano Crespi, written by Marco Orlandi, was presented on 17 November at Palazzo Castiglioni (Corso Venezia 47, Milan), accompanied by an exhibition dedicated to the author.
The volume pays tribute to Stefano Crespi, a central figure in art criticism, literary research, and contemporary Italian culture. A leading thinker in the dialogue between art and literature, Crespi influenced the country’s cultural landscape for decades. This publication and the related exhibition not only retrace his intellectual legacy but also bring to light his interdisciplinary vision: between word, image, and artwork, Crespi consistently championed a form of writing animated by the “force of life,” capable of narrating its own time with clarity and delicacy.
Stefano Crespi was born in 1941 in Magnago, in the province of Milan. After an initial period of study in a seminary, he graduated in Literature from the Catholic University of Milan with a thesis on the history and criticism of cinema. His background and cross-disciplinary interests allowed him to develop a unique critical perspective, positioned between literary and artistic reflection. From 1972 to 1976, he served on the Board of Directors of the Piccolo Teatro of the City of Milan, under the direction of Giorgio Strehler, taking part in some of the most vibrant theatrical experiences of the time.
As a journalist and cultural critic, Crespi collaborated with major publications, including Il Sole 24 Ore, Corriere della Sera, and Corriere del Ticino in Italian-speaking Switzerland. His writing—precise, profound, and imbued with poetic sensitivity—made him a distinctive voice in the landscape of contemporary criticism.
For the publishing house Le Lettere, he curated the “Atelier” series, which today includes 24 titles and stands as one of the most significant platforms for art writing in Italy. In parallel, Crespi organized numerous interdisciplinary exhibitions dedicated to themes such as the face, melancholy, skies, the body and the image, and the representation of women—confirming his lasting interest in the power of images and literary imagination. Among his works, the diary Nel colore del tempo, published in 1981 by La Locusta in Vicenza, stands out for its intimate and open exploration of the relationship between art, time, and existence.
Writing as a Living Act: The Art and Literature of Stefano Crespi brings together documents, images, manuscripts, and critical texts, offering a comprehensive presentation of Crespi’s rich and profound intellectual journey. The exhibition further expands on the contents of the book, visually interpreting key moments of his work in writing, curatorship, and cultural dialogue.
The event brings together artists, writers, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts, offering a valuable opportunity to remember and rediscover an author who made writing a form of life and art an essential language.
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