Luca Beatrice, the art critic, dies: he was 63 years old

Luca Beatrice died today, January 21, at the age of 63 years old. The art critic and leading figure on the Italian cultural scene had been struck by an illness and had been hospitalized for days in Turin hospital.

The message

The news was announced on social media by his brother Giulio who wrote on Facebook: “Two brothers are not two friends. They are branches of the same tree that may diverge over the years…but their bond will be eternal. Bye Luca, have a safe trip”. Beatrice – former president of the Turin Readers’ Club and current president of the Rome Quadrennial 2025 – was hospitalized in Turin following an illness.

“We mourn the passing of a friend, of a protagonist of Italian and international culture who trained artists with his knowledge. Curator, critic and teacher, in every role Luca best expressed his vocation as an intellectual and polemicist at the service of the public competition. The Rome Quadrennial, an institution he presided over, represents the culmination of his brilliant career. The pain caused by his death is unspeakable the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli.

The president of the Culture Commission of the Chamber, Federico Mollicone declared: “The art world loses a passionate non-conforming critic and, as Brecht wrote, ‘an indispensable’ in the category of humans. I have lost a friend. To God, Luca”.

Even the mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo joins in the family’s grief: “With the passing of Luca Beatrice we prematurely lose a great animator of the Turin and Italian cultural scene, a very acute mind capable of profound thought and frank and loyal discussion. Heartfelt condolences to his family in this moment of pain.” AND Rosanna PurchiaCouncilor for Culture of the City of Turin, adds: “I have known and appreciated the work, competence and abilities of Luca Beatrice in the many roles he has held in Turin’s institutions over the years. Here in Turin I also had the opportunity to discover his friendliness, his frankness, his ability to always have brilliant discussions full of enthusiasm. We will miss him greatly.”

Also remembering Beatrice Angelo Mellonedirector of Rai’s Day Time Entertainment: “My friend, my brother, I have no words. I really have no words”, is the message on social media. “You left like this, suddenly, as a mischievous bad boy, as a biker who doesn’t want to waste time with pleasantries. Who knows, where you are now, if you will be able to admire that perfection in the art that you have chased and talked about all your life. That you can look at us from the top of a hang glider or an aeropoem, my heart”, he concludes.