Maestri: Influences from Italy to Australia — now showing at Manly Art Gallery & Museum
When audiences enter Maestri: Influences from Italy to Australia at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M), they encounter artworks that tell a story of migration, mentorship, and cultural exchange. What they don’t see is the journey those works took — across borders, through customs, in climate-controlled conditions — to arrive safely in Sydney. This is where Avion International plays a crucial role, ensuring masterpieces are protected so their stories can be shared.
For Josephine Bennett, MAG&M Manager, Arts & Culture / Gallery Director, the exhibition honours the legacy of Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, an Italian-born artist and teacher whose influence contributed to reshaping Australian art in the early 20th century. “Maestri was inspired by Dattilo-Rubbo’s remarkable legacy as both artist and teacher. He was a key cultural bridge between Italy and Australia in the early 20th century. For MAG&M, it is significant because Dattilo-Rubbo not only shaped generations of Australian artists but also played a foundational role in establishing the Gallery itself in 1930.”
A Bridge Between Italy and Australia
Through his story, Maestri reveals how Italian academic traditions blended with Australian creativity, producing a uniquely local expression of art that still carries Italian roots.
The exhibition also resonates on a broader stage. Gianluca Rubagotti, Consul General of Italy in Sydney, describes Maestri as a milestone in tracing how Naples’ late 19th-century artistic traditions influenced Australia’s early modernist painters. “This exhibition aims, for the first time, to trace a trajectory which describes how the artistic environment of late XIX century Naples influenced, through the figure of Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, the generation of Australian modernist painters. It is not important for the Italo-Australian community, but for the Australian evolution in the field of painting.”
Italian creativity, he adds, has long enriched Australia’s cultural identity: “Italian artists came to Sydney and Australia already in the second half of the XIX century and left a mark in different fields: painting, sculpting, mosaics, music, interior decorations.”
Structure & Expertise: The Backbone of Art Logistics
While audiences enjoy the finished exhibition, a complex logistics chain made it possible. Avion International’s Event & Art Logistics division in Italy collaborated with MAG&M, Intesa Sanpaolo, and the National Art School to ensure international transport and conservation standards were met.
Josephine Bennett explains the scale of the task: “The main challenge has been curating works from Italy and Australia, while honouring both their historical significance and artistic value. It has required meticulous coordination, conservation, and interpretation to present Dattilo-Rubbo’s legacy in full context.”
From securing Fine Art Ministry authorisations to coordinating temporary export permits and customs clearances, Avion’s expertise ensured artworks crossed borders smoothly. Consul General Rubagotti acknowledges how long-term planning was essential: “The conceptualisation of the exhibition started more than 18 months ago. It required constant dialogue, and visits to the relevant institutions also in Italy. The hardest part was probably dealing with the Customs.”
The Role of Partnership
Partnership has been central to Maestri’s success. “The support of partners such as Avion International Australia has been vital, particularly in managing the complex logistics of international transport,” says Josephine Bennett. “Their expertise has ensured the safe arrival of artworks, allowing us to focus on curatorial storytelling and audience engagement.”
The Consul General echoes this sentiment: “Projects like this exhibition need a concerted effort. Every institution and actor has to play its part, in synergy, so that the result can be achieved.”
For MAG&M, Maestri sets the stage for future collaborations that share stories of migration and artistic exchange. For Italy, it reaffirms the lasting impact of cultural ties with Australia.
“Italian migrants have contributed not only in the way modern Australians eat, drink, get dressed, build and furnish their houses, but also in different fields of culture. Painting is one of these. Every Australian should be aware and proud of figures like Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo,” says Consul General Rubagotti.
Looking Ahead
At the same time, Avion International is preparing for the future of art logistics — from sustainable packaging to advanced digital tracking — ensuring cultural projects continue to thrive. As Maestri: Influences from Italy to Australia continues at MAG&M until 30 November, Avion International is proud to stand alongside cultural partners in connecting Italy and Australia through art.
Marco Viglietta, Managing Director of Avion International Australia, reflects: “Art logistics is about more than moving objects; it’s about safeguarding cultural heritage and enabling stories to travel across borders. We are honoured to play our part in bringing Maestri to Sydney and in supporting the cultural ties between Italy and Australia.”
Maestri: Influences from Italy to Australia | Friday, 19 September 2025 – 10:00 am to Sunday, 30 November 2025 – 05:00 pm, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 1a West Esplanade Manly, NSW 2095
Avion International Australia| Avion International is a global freight forwarder with a dedicated Art & Event Logistics division. From museum loans and international exhibitions to high-value private collections, our teams in Italy and Australia ensure that cultural treasures travel safely across borders. For us, logistics is not just about transport — it’s about safeguarding heritage and making art accessible to audiences worldwide.
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