ARTISSIMA, ranked 5th among Skate’s Art Market Research list of 30 top international art fairs, opens its doors on November 7th at Oval-Lingotto, Torino. The fair pursues intense and specific work both within Italy and overseas with the aim of bringing the most established galleries that resonate with the spirit of the event to Torino. Therefore all the cultural institutions in town host special events or exhibitions to mark the week.

The other main highlight of the week will be One Torino, a “multi-site museum” project involving art institutions and foundations representing local cultural and contemporary excellence throughout Torino, presented within a unique and spectacular site-specific project. Shit and Die , curated by retired artist Maurizio Cattelan (b.1960, Padova) flanked by Myriam Ben Salah and Marta Papini – has imagined a very special exhibition in the evocative location of Palazzo Cavour.

Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo presents three exhibitions. Beware Wet Paint is a group show that explores the latest trends in international painting. This main exhibition will also have two satellite events, one focusing on the work of a young painter, David Ostrowski (b.1982, Cologne) and the other on the long-established artist, Isa Genzken (b.1949, Bad Oldesloe).

Fondazione Merz presents Todestriebe, a project by Masbedo based on the theme of lack of communication and involving different languages, topics, and subjects both in terms of creativity and city venues. The project revolves around the exhibition at the Fondazione and features 9 video works, some of which are site specific while others span the last ten years of the artists’ production.

At Castello di Rivoli the exhibition Manifest Intention. Drawing In All Its Forms focuses on drawing in its various forms and modes of expression: from everyday and self-controlled practice to elements of analysis and creative outlets, from a means of communication to the need to express.

GAM Torino presents an important exhibition devoted to works on paper and large paintings by Roy Lichtenstein the undisputed master of Pop Artist; 235 works are being shown in Italy for the first time, thanks to the close cooperation with the Estate and the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.

Finally another fair will be held during the week: The Othersis open to all the operators – both profit or non-profit – which deal on a continuous basis with programs dedicated to young artists. Also galleries born after January 1st 2009 and – irrespectively on their opening date – non-profit centre’s, associations and foundations, artists or curators collectives, artist- run-spaces, publishing projects, art awards, residences for artists, art schools and academies, bookshops which deal with art, spaces dedicated to young, self-produced design and artist graphics.

Museums, galleries and art spaces will celebrate Artissima’s week with a late opening(until midnight) on Saturday November 8th.

For more information, check out My Art Guides’ Special Focus, dedicated to theARTISSIMA Art Week.