October 24 marked the opening at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum of Florida International University immersive multimedia exhibition “Mosaico. Italian Code of a Timeless Art”, produced by the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and commissioned to the specialized company Magister Art, in order to disseminate knowledge of the Italian historical-artistic heritage across the world, with particular reference to the millenary art of mosaics.
The exhibition forms part of a distinguished international tour, promoted under the auspices of the Italian Diplomatic-Consular Network and the Italian Cultural Institutes. This cultural journey has thus far honored audiences across the Americas—North, Central, and South—as well as Asia, bearing witness to Italy’s enduring commitment to artistic dialogue and exchange.
The Miami stop is supported by the Italian Cultural Institute and is co-organized with the Consulate General of Italy and the Frost Art Museum.
Structured in seven stations, the Mosaico exhibition offers visitors a unique digital experience: a 2,000-year-long journey to discover the images, symbols, techniques and materials of some of Italy’s most famous and representative mosaics – and the archaeological sites that host them (Rome, Pompeii, Aquileia, Ravenna, Palermo, Monreale, Piazza Armerina and the sunken city of Baia).
The project combines centuries-old craftsmanship with cutting-edge multimedia content, allowing visitors to interact with the works and offering an in-depth analysis of how mosaics were used as a medium for storytelling, cultural expression and religious devotion, demonstrating the great relevance of this art form.
The Miami stage distinguishes itself with remarkable features. For the first time, the display is enriched by the presence of original artifacts generously loaned by the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lazio: a pair of mosaics portraying a dog from the Abbey of Montecassino, and a floor panel originating from one of Emperor Caligula’s celebrated ships, preserved at the Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi.
Furthermore, throughout its public opening, the exhibition is accompanied by a distinguished program of lectures and workshops dedicated to the art of mosaic. Organized in collaboration with leading companies in the field, this initiative underscores the vitality of a technique that continues to flourish among Italian artisans, yielding creations of extraordinary resonance and impact.
At the opening ceremony, a message from the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, H.E. Marco Peronaci, was solemnly delivered. Distinguished speakers graced the occasion, including Michele Mistò, Consul General of Italy in Miami; Miriam Machado, Director of the Frost Art Museum; Cristiana Ruggini, Head of the Exhibitions and Loans Division of the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lazio, representing Director Elisabetta Scungio; and the Honorable Andrea Di Giuseppe, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
The exhibition will remain on view, with admission offered free of charge, until February 22, 2026, inviting the public to partake in this exceptional celebration of Italian cultural heritage.
