The ArtWork is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist

For the first time the San Patrignano foundation is auctioning a selection of important works from its contemporary art collection for charitable purposes. Each artwork purchased will correspond to an act of support for San Patrignano, the largest drug rehabilitation community in Europe, recognized as an important model worldwide.

Founded in 1978, to date the community has welcomed over 26,000 young people facing marginalization and drug addiction, more than 72% of whom, upon completing the program, have fully reintegrated into society and no longer use any form of drugs. san patrignano provides young men and women in difficulty with a home, healthcare and legal assistance, the opportunity to study, learn a profession, and change their lives entirely free of charge, without requesting any fees from them or their families. it therefore covers very high operating costs, partly financed through its productive sectors – which are primarily educational and vocational training centers for youth, thus a crucial part of the recovery process – and through donations and support from those who consider the foundation worthy of their help.

As part of a financial sustainability strategy aimed at ensuring the community’s long-term survival, together with close friends of the community – including recognized collectors and art enthusiasts – an initiative of extraordinary significance was implemented: to establish a collection of artworks donated by collectors, artists, and gallerists. This is an innovative sustainability tool; the first experience in italy of an anglo-saxon style endowment, allowing San Patrignano to have a patrimonial resource to draw upon through the sale of selected artworks. All of them were exhibited from 2020 to 2024 at the part-palazzi dell’arte in Rimini, with some also presented at Triennale Milano and Università Bocconi in dedicated exhibitions.

In 2025, the San Patrignano foundation selected a group of particularly significant works from its collection to be auctioned, with proceeds directed toward the energy efficiency improvements of the community.

The selection of important works now up for auction includes historically recognized artists such as Igor Mitoraj, with a large resin model titled "Luci di Nara" from 2014, Pino Pinelli with a museum installation paonting from 2014, Julian Schnabel with Carlina from 1998, alongside prominent contemporary italian artists such as Bertozzi&Casoni with Barile (2006) and Matteo Pugliese with Dragonfly (2019) and Custode Samurai VIII (2020).

Gian Marco Montesano. Il Teatro dell’Arte, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, San Giorgio in Poggiale, 25 Maggio - 30 Giugno 2002
La collezione di San Patrignano. Work in progress, Palazzo Vecchio, Firenze, 27 Ottobre - 3 Novembre 2019
PART, Collezione Fondazione San Patrignano nei Palazzi dell'Arte Rimini, Rimini, 24 settembre 2020 - 1 luglio 2023