The British School at Rome is proud to present Cloistered, a group exhibition curated by Marta Pellerini opening on Wednesday 28 May at 6:00 PM and running until 27 June 2025. The exhibition brings together six artists: current BSR residents Can Gun, Sophio Medoidze, Cathie Pilkington and Ash Tower, alongside Rome-based Italian artists Cristina Lavosi and Andrea Mauti.

The exhibition’s title, Cloistered, reflects on the cultural and spatial dynamics often associated with foreign academies in Rome. The BSR, like other such institutions, offers a rich environment for research and artistic development – yet it can also foster a sense of seclusion. Residency life sometimes resembles a kind of voluntary retreat, reminiscent of monastic traditions, where fellows are immersed in their practice but remain distanced from the city’s contemporary cultural fabric.

At the same time, Cloistered considers the external perception of these institutions, which for many local artists appear as elite, inaccessible spaces. With this exhibition, the BSR invites dialogue – between the inside and outside, between these “golden cages” and the artistic ecosystems they inhabit or exclude.

As part of the project, each artist has been paired with a writer – a curator, poet, or academic – who has developed a text reflecting on their work. These writers are: Fabiola Fiocco, Eloise Fornieles, Matthew Fox, Eleonora Milani, Donatella Saroli, and Samuel Waweru. These contributions will be published in a booklet available during the show.

The exhibition is open Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Admission is free.