Spanning 15th century Florence to contemporary China, local art exhibitions in 2016 are nothing if not diverse. We’ve combed through the museum calendars to bring you some of the highlights so far. 
From Kandinsky to Pollock. The Art of the Guggenheim CollectionsPalazzo Strozzi, March 19–July 24
Bridging the transatlantic divide, this impressive exhibition will explore Neo-Avant-Garde movements through the lives and collections of American art enthusiasts Peggy and Solomon Guggenheim. Artists in the catalog include Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp, just to name a few. Worth noting is a little-known link between Peggy Guggenheim and the palazzo: the Strozzina undercroft was the original home for her famed collection before it found its permanent home in Venice.
Discoveries and Massacres. Ardengo Soffici and Impressionism in FlorenceUffizi Gallery, September 27–January 8, 2017
Tuscan painter and art critic Ardengo Soffici, active in the first half of the 20th century, will be the subject of one of the Uffizi’s principal exhibitions this year. Discoveries and Massacres will include his own work in addition to complementary pieces from Cézanne, Renoir, Picasso, Degas, Medardo Rosso and Giorgio De Chirico, accompanied by critical texts that shed light on both Soffici’s personal tastes and cultural trends.
Jesters, Villains and Players at the Medici CourtGallery of Modern Art, Palazzo Pitti, Andito degli AngioliniMay 9–September 11
This exhibition will explore the bizarre figures and faces of court life found in many of the Medici collections, yet often overlooked or marginalized. Comprising approximately thirty 17th and 18th century artworks, the show will focus mostly on genre scenes illustrating the comic and less-refined rituals and faces of court life.
Ai Weiwei at Palazzo StrozziPalazzo Strozzi, September 22–January 22, 2017
Born in Beijing, the hugely influential Ai Weiwei—artist, activist and advocate for human rights—will bring a boost to the contemporary scene in Florence this fall. Weiwei has showed in leading world museums, from the Tate Modern to the Martin-Gropius-Bau. This exhibition will include a broad selection of his work and a series of site-specific installations designated for Palazzo Strozzi.
He Made Sculpture of Wood, Which He Coloured. Painted Wooden Sculpture in 15th Century Florence.Uffizi GalleryMarch 21–August 28
The Florentine Quattrocento is the focus of this exhibition, which will feature approximately 50 pieces, exploring the influence that painters, sculptors and architects of the period had on each other in Florence. Painted sculpture was at the forefront of 15th century Florentine artwork, in wood as well as marble and terracotta.
Liu Xiadong: MigrationsStrozzina, April 22–June 19
After spending time in Tuscany recently working on a series of paintings, photographs and drawings, contemporary Chinese artist Liu Xiaodang will have a solo show at the Strozzina. Xiadoang’s work is well-known for walking a fine line between contemporary reportage and historical painting. The idea for this exhibition grew out of the artist’s interest in Prato’s substantial Chinese community.
Splendida Minima.Precious small sculptures in the Medici collections, from Francesco I de’ Medici’s Tribune to the grand ducal treasureSilver Museum, Palazzo PittiJune 21–November 2
Good things come in small packages, as the saying goes: this exhibition will highlight a remarkable range of rare Hellenistic and Roman sculptures carved in semi-precious stone, a skill that largely fell to the wayside until the art was revived during the Renaissance. This is the first-ever exhibition to focus on this specific theme, shedding light on both the Medici’s collecting patterns and on the varied technical and stylistic aspects of these “micro-sculptures.”
The Four Continents. Florentine tapestries to cartoons by Giovanni Camillo SagrestaniPalatine Gallery – Sala Bianca, Palazzo PittiSeptember 27–January 8, 2017
Set against the backdrop of the stark and stunning Sala Bianca, The Four Continents comes just a few months after Palazzo Vecchio’s Prince of Dreams exhibition, in which several Pontormo and Bronzino-designed Medici tapestries were returned to their rightful home. This time, though, the equally elegant artworks on display highlight four continents and their most intriguing qualities, giving viewers insight on how geography informed 18th century worldviews. The tapestries are based on designs by painter Giovanni Camillo Sagrestani and woven by skilled Flemish artists.
