“Grande folla n.1” by Giò Pomodoro, one of the masterpieces of the GNAMC

From 8 May 2025, Rome's Fiumicino Airport will further enrich its dialogue with contemporary art by hosting the monumental sculpture "Grande Folla n.1" by Giò Pomodoro in Terminal 1. Pomodoro is one of the most recognised masters of 20th-century Italian sculptural abstraction.
The work, on loan from the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAMC) in Rome, has been restored thanks to the support of Aeroporti di Roma and will be on display for a year, offering millions of travellers an unexpected encounter with beauty and contemplation.

Born in Orciano di Pesaro in 1930, Giò Pomodoro distinguished himself from the 1950s onwards with an artistic exploration focused on the balance between form and energy. After moving to Milan, he developed a distinctive style that combined geometric abstraction with the expressive power of materials. His body of work spans sculpture, engraving, and set design, and is present in collections and public spaces in Italy and abroad. Pomodoro has always viewed art as a living element, one that integrates into the urban landscape and the everyday life of people.

A work that comes to life among the faces in transit

Created in 1964, the sculpture stands out for its gleaming bronze, shaped into forms that evoke the flow of people in motion. Its voids and solids chase each other, creating shifting reflections in which the faces, emotions, and stories of the travellers who pass by are mirrored.
A work designed to interact with its space, to transform continuously, much like in airport terminals: places where time flows, and identities merge, even if only for a moment.
To enhance the immersive experience of passengers, Terminal 1 also features the digital installations "Pillars of Art", showcasing images of works from the collection of the National Gallery. This selection is intended to interact conceptually with Pomodoro's sculpture, offering a glimpse of the main movements and artistic currents that have shaped the history of modern and contemporary Italian art.

A symbol of Italy looking to the future

"Grande Folla n.1" is not only a testament to the expressive power of Giò Pomodoro but also serves as an emblem of an Italian art in constant motion, capable of evolving, experimenting, and engaging with the present.
Its presence in the heart of Terminal 1 represents a strong, immersive, and contemporary artistic gesture, designed to welcome travellers with an invitation to discover a vibrant Italy, one that is rooted in history but continues to generate innovation and creativity.

This message also reflects the identity of the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, the custodian of an extraordinary heritage in terms of both scale and variety: over 20,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, design objects, and videos, the result of more than a century of acquisitions and donations from artists and patrons.