PRESENTATION

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is the central hub of the Civic Museums system of Viggiù, a Lombard town near the Swiss border, historically renowned as a center of excellence in the Italian sculptural tradition. The area’s rich artistic heritage—shaped by the presence of stone quarries and numerous workshops active since the 19th century—has forged a strong and distinctive cultural identity. This legacy is reflected in the structure of the museum complex, which brings together various institutions sharing the same historical and artistic roots.

At the heart of this multifaceted system lies the Butti Museum, named after Enrico Butti (1847–1932), a prominent figure in Italian sculpture who lived and worked in Viggiù. His former residence, now fully restored, houses the Butti Museum | Contemporary—so named in 2023 by curator Veronica Zanardi on the occasion of the inauguration of new exhibition spaces. This section, dedicated to contemporary art, was conceived as a dynamic space for exchange, experimentation, and dialogue among diverse artistic languages. The museum’s transformation into a hub open to contemporary art was strongly advocated by Gottardo Ortelli, director of the museum from 1977 to 1995.

During his tenure, Ortelli introduced an innovative curatorial approach aimed at moving beyond a purely conservationist model to promote vibrant and participatory artistic programming. He established the Orsa Prize, initiated numerous collaborations with leading artists and critics, and curated high-profile exhibitions, launching a contemporary art section that laid the foundation for today’s Butti Museum | Contemporary. His goal was to create a cultural project capable of enhancing the territory through the language of art, fostering ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity.

Today, the Museum continues in this direction, asserting itself as a driving force for artistic and cultural activity, in constant dialogue with academic institutions, museum networks, and cultural practitioners. It has renewed its historic partnership with the Brera Academy, strengthening an identity bond that dates back to the museum’s origins. Over the years, many professors and artists associated with the Academy have helped shape a robust cultural offering grounded in scientific rigor and an openness to contemporary artistic discourse. In this same spirit, the Museum has also initiated collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara, in line with the region’s sculptural vocation.

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is now an integral part of the Enrico Butti Civic Museums of Viggiù, a complex that also includes the Butti Plaster Cast Gallery (Gipsoteca), the Museum of 20th-Century Viggiù Artists, the 19th-Century Sculpture Museum of Viggiù, and the Picasass Museum.

The Collection

The formation of the Contemporary Art Collection at the Museum was made possible through acquisitions and the generosity of numerous artists who, sharing the institution’s cultural mission, donated works as a tangible show of support. The core of the collection consists primarily of paintings, but also includes drawings, design studies, and works on paper, selected for their documentary value and ability to capture the early stages of the creative process.

Drawing, understood as a primary tool of invention and reflection, plays a central role in the Museum’s curatorial approach. Accordingly, the Museum is committed to gradually building a collection organized around the two conceptual poles of an artwork’s genesis and its completed realization—highlighting the full complexity of the creative process.

The value of these works—often private, intimate, and sometimes previously unseen—lies in their ability to document the less visible phases of artistic practice, adding depth to the museum experience. As Fausto Melotti, who was the subject of a celebrated exhibition at the Museum in 1981, once observed:
“To every artist, drawings are dear, for they each time bring back that obscure moment in the genesis of a work of art.”

Cultural Programming and Local Networks

The Butti Museum | Contemporary is distinguished by a consistent and high-quality exhibition program that has, over the years, featured nationally and internationally recognized artists, alongside emerging figures and “peripheral” voices whose critical value lies outside mainstream narratives. This emphasis on quality and originality has enabled the Museum to establish itself as a reference point in the Lombardy museum landscape, enriching the region’s cultural offerings.
Its participation in the Contemporary Archives Network, coordinated by the MA*GA Museum in Gallarate and supported by the Integrated Cultural Plans (PIC 2020/2021) of the Lombardy Region, is a meaningful acknowledgment of its work in promoting local identity through art and culture. This award-winning project, praised for activating synergy among public and private entities, has strengthened institutional relations and encouraged the sharing of resources and expertise. In this context, contemporary art emerges as a tool for social cohesion and cultural regeneration, fostering new narratives of identity in a region united by shared historical and productive values.

From this perspective, the Museum’s PCTO (Work-Related Learning) projects with the “A. Frattini” Art High School of Varese are particularly significant. These initiatives involve students in formative experiences related to exhibition design, the creation of graphic and pictorial materials, event documentation, and the production of site-specific artworks such as murals and temporary installations within both museum and urban spaces. These activities reinforce the Museum’s role as a cultural hub rooted in the community and engaged with the dynamics of contemporary artistic practice.

Mission

The mission of the Butti Museum | Contemporanea is structured around five key pillars:

1. Promoting contemporary artistic production as a tool for interpreting the present, through exhibitions and collaborations with academic and cultural institutions;
2. Preserving and enhancing the cultural and artistic heritage of Viggiù, with special attention to its contemporary developments;
3. Developing educational and training activities aimed at various public entities, to foster cultural access and active participation in museum life;
4. Conserving and documenting creative processes, with particular emphasis on drawing and the planning phases of artwork;
5. Strengthening territorial integration by reinforcing local cultural networks and promoting a museum model based on sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.
   Conclusion
   Today, the Butti Museum | Contemporary stands as a cultural institution capable of reinterpreting the historical legacy of its territory through a contemporary lens, promoting a vision of art that bridges memory and future, local roots and international openness. With a strong network of partnerships and a valuable cultural heritage, the Museum is committed to actively contributing to the development of a widespread, accessible, and inclusive culture, thereby supporting the cultural, social, and economic growth of the community.

Founder
Gottardo Ortelli

Curator and Museum Director
Veronica Zanardi

Communications
Allegra Pallaoro

Mayor
Emanuela Quintiglio