Galleria L’Obelisco Rome – A Historic Hub of Modern Art

The Galleria L’Obelisco was one of the pillars of the Roman art scene in the 1940s and beyond. Founded in 1946 by Irene Brin and Gaspero del Corso, this private gallery served as a bridge to international art after the Liberation, promoting surrealism, abstract art, and emerging Italian talent. Located at Via Sistina 146, it was a cosmopolitan hub that brought together fashion, literature, and painting, profoundly influencing the modern art market in Italy.

 

Galleria l'Obelisco Via Sistina Roma
Galleria l’Obelisco Via Sistina Rome (photo owned by the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome)

The Legacy of Galleria L’Obelisco in Rome

Founded in 1946 by Irene Brin and Gaspero del Corso, Galleria L’Obelisco became one of Rome’s most influential private art galleries after World War II. Located on Via Sistina 146, it united fashion, literature and avant-garde painting while introducing international movements such as surrealism and abstraction to Italy.

Galleria L'Obelisco Roma
Brin e del Corso alla Galleria L’Obelisco1946

A Cosmopolitan Epicenter of Art and Culture

After the Liberation of Italy, L’Obelisco acted as a cultural crossroads between Italian and American art worlds, presenting exhibitions that showcased emerging Italian talents alongside groundbreaking modern artists. Its innovative programming and international reach deeply influenced the modern art market in Rome.

Galleria L'Obelisco Roma
Irene Brin Galleria L’Obelisco

 

Galleria L'Obelisco Roma
Titina Maselli mostra Galleria L’Obelisco Roma

The L’Obelisco gallery was not just a gallery, but a catalyst for the renewal of Italian art, breaking with Fascist officialdom and embracing internationalism. It influenced the market, with sales that made the avant-garde accessible, and created a milieu that linked art, fashion, and literature.

Today, its archive, preserved at the GNAMC in Rome, bears witness to this vital period, with retrospective exhibitions celebrating its role.