London
Plans by the Florida-based Italian collector Carlo Bilotti to convert a chapel in north Rome into a centre for contemporary art will still go ahead according to a city official, despite Mr Bilotti’s death in November. Alberta Campitelli told The Art Newspaper that “Mr Bilotti’s wife intends to continue his work. I plan to meet her this month so that we’ll be able to schedule everything.” Mr Bilotti was in discussions with the city council about leasing the deconsecrated chapel for 80 years. He aimed to show The Four Evangelists, a series of paintings by Damien Hirst, in the new space. Last summer, Mr Bilotti opened the Museo Bilotti inside the Orangery of Rome’s Villa Borghese. Eighteen paintings by De Chirico and a portrait of Mr Bilotti’s wife and late daughter by Andy Warhol are among the works on permanent display on the first floor. However, another Bilotti project in Rome, an exhibition of his collection of 20th-century art, scheduled to open this month at the Palazzo Venezia, has been cancelled.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as ‘Late collector’s Hirst “chapel” will still open'