The “ripped” facade of Palazzo Farnese in Rome by French artist JR

The “ripped” facade of Palazzo Farnese, Rome

Look at this! Fresh from factory! 😜


When I saw a similar installation in Florence in Palazzo Strozzi by the artist JR (on Instagram: @jr) some months ago, I thought “wow! That’s the kind of contemporary art that includes everyone, from little kids to the oldest people in town”.


I was so happy to casually bump into this in piazza Farnese, a few steps away from Campo de’ Fiori, in Rome! 🧡
This art installation lays on the façade of Palazzo Farnese, a renaissance building belonged to the Farnese family, which today houses the French Embassy in Rome.


The Palace is going through some renovation works that are planned to be completed in 2025. Until then, it was announced that artists were invited to take advantage of the scaffoldings of the palace to showcase their artworks, in order to give a contemporary focus to the building and the wonders that lay inside. In fact some of the most incredible Renaissance artists worked in this building, such as Sangallo, Michelangelo, Vignola and Della Porta.

The “wound” at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence by JR


It seems like the French artist JR seized the moment. After Palazzo Strozzi, JR comes back to Italy and gifts us with this optical illusion, which gives us the feeling that the palace is sort of “open” and that we can take a peek inside.Which is quite relevant, considering that many of us have been trying to get inside this building for long time, but visits have been suspended because of the pandemic and the renovation works.

Many of us believe that contemporary art it’s difficult to understand, not everybody has the tools to interpret and get the meaning of many artworks being produced today. However this kind of “urban” art installations gets right to the emotions of the people, it’s accessible to everyone. I bet no one walking past this could help saying a little “wow” 🙂

How amazing is this? Do you like this kind of urban art?
I simply L-O-V-E it! 😍

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Written by Federica

Creative Director of Live Virtual Guide and Tour Guide. Her favorite things are gelato, pizza and the hidden gems of Rome.
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