Ceramiche dell'antico Perù, dal Pacifico alle Ande

The Le Fornaci Foundation in Riva San Vitale presents "Ceramics of Ancient Peru. From the Pacific to the Andes," an exhibition conceived and produced by the Museum of Cultures of Lugano (MUSEC) and curated by Antonio Aimi, former professor of Pre-Columbian Civilizations at the University of Milan and a scientific collaborator at MUSEC. The exhibition, organized under the patronage of the Municipality of Riva San Vitale, will be hosted in the historic spaces of the Palazzo Comunale from September 19 to December 6, 2026.

After inaugurating its exhibition program last November with "Fire and Matter. The Art of Ceramics," the first group exhibition dedicated to contemporary ceramics from the region, with "Ceramics of Ancient Peru. From the Pacific to the Andes," the Le Fornaci Foundation continues its mission by expanding its scope to the international scene and proposing a project of strong cultural and educational value. The exhibition brings together 65 works from the MUSEC's pre-Columbian art collections. Originating from the great cultures that developed between the Pacific coast and the Andes between 1800 BC and 1532 AD, the year of the Spanish conquest, they offer a broad and diverse audience the opportunity to discover one of the most important ceramic traditions of the pre-Columbian world.

"The exhibition was conceived with the aim of offering an updated and informed interpretation of one of the most extraordinary artistic traditions of the American continent," emphasizes Antonio Aimi, curator of the exhibition, "emphasizing not only the historical and archaeological value of the artifacts, but also the aesthetic quality, technical skill, and creative dimension of the artists who created them."
In line with the most recent research perspectives on pre-Columbian art, the project is part of a constantly evolving field of study aimed at recognizing the role of the artisans and the specificity of individual works, transcending a purely archaeological perspective to restore ceramic production to its full artistic value.

The exhibition thus presents itself as a unique opportunity for knowledge and discovery: a journey through techniques, styles, and artistic languages that reveal the complexity of pre-Columbian cultures and their extraordinary visual heritage.

Ceramics, with its ability to combine material, technique, and creativity, constitutes a universal heritage capable of narrating civilizations, traditions, and worldviews, revealing the complexity and richness of the cultures that produced them.

*Image copyright: © 2026 Fondazione culture e musei, Lugano *