Hauser & Wirth, a leading global art gallery, has announced its representation of the estate of renowned artist Carol Rama. The gallery will work alongside Berlin's Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi to showcase Rama's impactful works.
Carol Rama, celebrated as one of the most significant artists of the 20th century, created unique paintings exploring female sexuality in a style distinctly her own. Her artwork often features exaggerated eyes and women depicted with their tongues out, defying conventional artistic movements and solidifying her status as a compelling figure in contemporary Italian art.
Although Rama gained recognition prior to the 21st century and was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in 2003, her work remained relatively underappreciated outside Italy until recent years. A major retrospective at the Museu d'Art Contemporani in Barcelona in 2014, followed by exhibitions at Paris's Musée d'Art Moderne in 2015 and New York's New Museum in 2017, significantly elevated her profile.
"Self-taught, fiercely independent, and utterly untamed, Rama was a pioneer in her field," remarked Manuela Wirth, co-founder of Hauser & Wirth. She noted that Rama's mother, Ursula Hauser, had long been an advocate for the artist's work.
The inaugural exhibition of Rama's estate at Hauser & Wirth is scheduled for May in New York. Previously, the estate collaborated with Fergus McCaffrey and the now-closed Lévy Gorvy gallery in the city.
The addition of Rama's estate marks the second new representation for Hauser & Wirth in 2026, following the inclusion of German painter Conny Maier earlier this year.