An exhibition dedicated to Constantin Brancusi, marking 150 years since the birth of the revolutionary modernist sculptor, opened on February 19 at Mercati di Traiano – the world’s first museum of ancient architecture – in the heart of Rome, the Embassy of Romania in Italy announced on on Facebook.

The exhibition “Constantin Brancusi: The Origins of Infinity” is organised within the calendar of the Romania – Italy Cultural Year 2026, developed and promoted by the Embassy of Romania in Italy and carried out with the support of Romania’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense, under the High Patronage of the Presidents of Romania and Italy. Curated by Romania’s National Museum of Art, in partnership with the Craiova Art Museum and the “Alexandru Stefulescu” Gorj County Museum, the initiative is also part of the official celebrations marking 150 years since the birth of Constantin Brancusi (1876 – 1957), one of the founding figures of modern sculpture.

Speakers at the opening event included Romania’s Ambassador to Italy, Gabriela Dancau; the Director-General responsible for Rome’s cultural heritage, Claudio Parisi Presicce; the Deputy Director-General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Filippo la Rosa, who delivered a message on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Riccardo Guariglia; the President of the Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Federico Mollicone; and the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.

“Certainly, there can be no ‘infinite’ art, no lasting civilisation or stable political order without truth, discernment, trust and due respect for people and for the hierarchy of ethical and moral values. Brancusi speaks to the entire world about an authentic and vibrant Romania, one that honours its traditions while looking confidently to the future. The exhibition ‘Constantin Brancusi: The Origins of Infinity’ in Rome reaffirms the prestigious place Romanian culture holds in Europe and opens new prospects for cultivating the historical, cultural and diplomatic ties between Romania and Italy,” said presidential adviser Diana Iancu, who attended the event and conveyed a message from Romania’s President, Nicusor Dan.

In her remarks, Ambassador Gabriela Dancau highlighted the symbolic significance of the Mercati di Traiano as an expression of Europe’s historical continuity and underlined the strength of the Romanian-Italian partnership, consolidated through political dialogue and strategic cooperation founded on shared values. She also noted that the Romania – Italy Cultural Year 2026 confirms the maturity of the bilateral relationship and the shared commitment to the European values, while the exhibition dedicated to Constantin Brancusi reflects the profound dialogue between Romanian tradition and Roman classical heritage, reaffirming culture as a bridge between past and future.

Federico Mollicone, President of the Culture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, emphasized the cultural importance of the project and the significance of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the artist’s birth within the framework of the Romania – Italy Cultural Year 2026.

Present at the inauguration, Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri underlined that the exhibition dedicated to Brancusi at the Musei dei Mercati di Traiano creates a dialogue between classical art and Brancusi’s modernism, and welcomed the initiative to grant free access to Romanian and Moldovan citizens, as recognition of these communities’ contribution to the host society, celebrating shared heritage and European ties.

The exhibition’s curator and Director of the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest, Erwin Kessler, gave a guided tour for the guests in attendance, who admired masterpieces such as The Prayer, Mademoiselle Pogany, Prometheus, Torso and The Chair from the Table of Silence series – emblematic works illustrating Brancusi’s artistic evolution and his unceasing quest for perfect form.

Representatives of the host country’s institutions attended the opening – including parliamentarians, representatives of the presidency and government, diplomats, figures from the artistic and performing arts communities, as well as from the research, business and religious sectors-– alongside Romanian officials.

The exhibition is open to the public from February 20 to July 19, 2026, with Romanian and Moldovan citizens benefiting from free admission. Visitors have access to an audio guide in English, Italian and Romanian.