Remembering Sauro Bocchi

It is with deep sorrow that we remember the passing of Sauro Bocchi (1950–2017).  

“Sauro lived for art and for the world of art, he had invested all his assets, all his time and all his energies in it. When he arrived in Rome for the first time he was driving a shiny Ferrari. He came from a wealthy Modenese family but had left everything, the family and the family business to study art history at the DAMS in Bologna. After graduating he came to Rome, a city he adored and opened a small gallery in a beautiful place, Palazzo Ricci. For some years Spazio Bocchi was home to many art critics and artists and had become a ‘salotto’ of art and food, showing contemporary art and serving dinners that Sauro cooked personally. In reality Sauro wanted to make a more cultural than commercial statement by proposing artists in whom he found quality, but who were not recognized by the art system. He didn't want to follow trends and gave an opportunity to many women artists such as: Giosetta Fioroni, Cloti Ricciardi, Lisa Montessori and Maria Lai, which was not easy at the time. Linked to the great gallerist Luciano Pistoi, Sauro participated in the adventure of Bellissima, a fair founded by Pistoi in Florence. He also organized the beautiful Tavola rotonda mediterranea with Michelangelo Pistoletto. Even though he came from a family of entrepreneurs, Sauro didn't have a managerial attitude, and even though he was an art dealer, he didn't have the skills for business, however, he had the trust, esteem and affection of many attentive and refined collectors worldwide including the Co-founders of Magazzino Italian Art. Ciao Sauro, from all of us from the bottom of our hearts!” - Laura Cherubini, Art Historian.

The above statement was included in the homage to Sauro Bocchi at the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, in Rome that took place on Thursday, April 20th, 2017 to remember Sauro, an innovative gallery owner and a lover of arts and artists. Speakers included Achille Bonito Oliva, Laura Cherubini, Francesco Moschini, Maria Piera Leonetti, and Stefania Miscetti, with testimonies of Danna e Giancarlo Olgiati, Rosa and Gilberto Sandretto, Pieranna Cavalchini, Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu.