Bipielle Arte

Bipielle Arte is the exhibition space of the Fondazione Banca Popolare di Lodi, housed in the bank headquarters designed by Renzo Piano. Its programme spans painting, graphic art and photography.

Why it matters

Lodi's art scene is dominated by historic collections, so a contemporary gallery backed by a banking foundation changes the city's rhythm. Bipielle Arte was created by the Banca Popolare di Lodi as a permanent home for art and is managed by its foundation. Its home in the Piano-designed administrative centre gives it a modern architectural setting, while its programme presents Italian and international artists through anthology surveys and themed group shows.

What to notice

The administrative centre that houses the gallery is a Renzo Piano Building Workshop project, placing the art within a significant contemporary architectural setting. The gallery's programme has included print exhibitions, a woodcut competition dedicated to Ugo Maffi, surveys of regional painters and photography projects.

Context and history

The gallery expresses the long civic involvement of the Banca Popolare di Lodi, an institution historically entwined with the city's identity. Rather than assembling a separate museum, the bank and then its foundation chose a permanent exhibition centre, hosting temporary shows and public initiatives. The Fondazione Banca Popolare di Lodi manages the gallery. The choice of location in the new administrative quarter, rather than in a historic palazzo, signalled the foundation's modern orientation: art as a living programme in a contemporary building. The venue is an established part of Lodi's cultural life.