Exhibition Venues
Through its two locations – at the LAC cultural centre and the historic Palazzo Reali – MASI Lugano offers a rich and culturally diverse programme, with temporary exhibitions and changing presentations of its collection as well as a comprehensive, multilingual educational programme for visitors of all ages.
The offer is complemented by the close collaborations with the Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati contemporary art collection, which is part of the MASI circuit.
LAC Venue
MASI’s three-storey LAC venue has a total surface area of 2,500 square metres, which includes 1,900 square metres of exhibition space designed to host ambitious projects and display the works of the collection to maximum effect.
The visitor experience begins on the outside. The wide-open space of Piazza Bernardino Luini welcomes the public, amid the pleasing contrast between the transparent volumes of the LAC building and the neoclassic façade of the former Grand Hotel Palace.
The lake-facing side of the building features a striking acute angle that offers visitors spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
The interior spaces, which are simple, flexible and bright, have been designed to the highest standards of safety and conservation, perfect for hosting a wide variety of exhibition projects.
+41 (0)58 866 42 40
Palazzo Reali Venue
Palazzo Reali is a historical complex in the centre of Lugano. In 1987, after being donated to Canton Ticino by Secondo Reali, it became the seat of the Cantonal Art Museum. The complex, which comprises a number of buildings, is located in an area known for its artistic heritage: it was one of the first constructions built in the mid-1400s on what is now Via Canova (formerly Via Castello). The restoration work completed in 2019 preserved and restored the historical and architectural elements of the buildings, while simultaneously equipping the spaces to respond to the museum’s needs.
The museum’s total surface area of 900 m² is spread over three exhibition floors, which host both its permanent collection as well as temporary shows of various kinds.
+41 (0)91 815 79 73
Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati venue
The Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati Collection is one of Switzerland’s most significant private collections of Italian art from the early 20th century to the present day. The Collection is comprised of more than two hundred significant Italian artworks, from Nouveau Réalisme through to international contemporary art.
The Collection is open to the public twice yearly in the state-of-the-art space adjacent to LAC Lugano, curated alternately by the owners themselves, focused on the artists of the Collection, or on a specific theme by an independent curator. Temporary exhibitions of the Collection’s featured artists accompany these exhibitions.
In 2018, Giancarlo and Danna Olgiati donated 76 artworks to MASI, consolidating their relationship with the museum and perpetuating the Swiss tradition that has always connected private collectors with public institutions.