From Palermo to Düsseldorf: In Conversation with RizzutoGallery

In August 2024, the Palermo-based RizzutoGallery, founded by Giovanni Rizzuto and Eva Oliveri, expanded to Düsseldorf, now running a second location on Ackerstraße 34 in the vibrant gallery district Flingern. We sat down with Giovanni Rizzuto to learn about the motivation behind the expansion, his assessment of how the local art scene will evolve, and what young galleries should consider when taking that leap. 

What convinced you to open a second space in Düsseldorf?

The decision to open a second space in Düsseldorf stems from the desire to strengthen and expand RizzutoGallery’s international connections. I founded it in Palermo in 2013 with my wife, Eva Oliveri.
We have always aimed to promote contemporary art in our city and support local artists, enhance their talent at home and abroad, and foster cultural dialogue in the international art scene.
Palermo is a lively and effervescent city that is very attentive to contemporary art and a breeding ground for valid artists, also thanks to the excellent work done in recent years by the Academy of Fine Arts of Palermo. However, the city lacks the necessary resources and Institutions to establish itself as a great capital of contemporary art. The public is passionate and participative, but there are few collectors interested in contemporary research art, preferring mostly to invest in established names.
In 2014, the encounter with the founders and members of the Verein ‘Düsseldorf-Palermo’ inspired us to frequent Düsseldorf assiduously and collaborate with local artists, including Katharina Maderthaner, who was the first German artist represented by our gallery.
This experience showed us interesting differences between Palermo and Düsseldorf, especially with regard to the active role of public institutions and the mentality of collectors, stimulating in us the desire to deepen the cultural exchange between the two in their own ways fascinating cities.
With the valuable support of artists and collectors from Düsseldorf, we intercepted a space in the Flingern district and opened the venue at Ackerstraße 34 on 30 August 2024, glad and proud to contribute to the city’s cultural and artistic scene.

Where do you fit in the gallery landscape of Düsseldorf?

RizzutoGallery fits into the Düsseldorf art scene as a research gallery, with a solid core of middle-career artists and a focus on young talent. The mission is to support and promote artistic research without stylistic or disciplinary limitations. The gallery ranges from painting and sculpture to the most innovative languages and practices, always intending to stimulate critical thinking and offer new perspectives on contemporary society.
Recently, we enriched our roster of artists with Richard Deacon, an internationally renowned British sculptor, who also played a significant role as a professor at the Düsseldorf Academy of Fine Arts for many years.
Our commitment remains focused on the cultural value of the artists we collaborate with and the high quality of their works.

How do collectors and their buying habits differ in Palermo and Düsseldorf?

As I have said, the contemporary art market in Palermo is limited. With a few fortunate exceptions, collectors have little openness toward young talent and tend to prefer historicized artists, considered to be safer investments. Collecting contemporary art is however mostly the prerogative of a restricted public.
In Düsseldorf, on the other hand, despite the due attention paid to the great masters, I seemed to perceive a greater and more widespread predisposition towards the work of young artists. I found an audience that buys artworks driven by an appreciation for aesthetic and conceptual research in itself, rather than from a purely economic perspective.
Purchasing is seen as a support for art, and not just as a financial investment, creates a more dynamic and rewarding environment.

Where do you think the art scene in Düsseldorf is headed in the coming years?

Düsseldorf has a strong tradition related to photography and sculpture, yet I believe that a recent generation of figurative and narrative painters is emerging. This could give an interesting new direction to the city’s art scene, which, in my opinion, is destined to consolidate its position as a dynamic centre for contemporary art.

What would you tell a young gallery considering opening a second space abroad?

I would recommend conducting market research and solid logistical and financial planning; to adapt the approach to the cultural and artistic specificities of the new context but make sure to bring something new and distinctive simultaneously. I would suggest devoting time and care to building a network of local contacts; to participate in city life with an eye on local artists.  Finally, I would say to maintain a strong connection with the original audience, continuing to support the artists you started with, to make the expansion a natural evolution of the path.
In any case, I would encourage the young gallery to take this step. I deeply believe in putting yourself on the line.