The first Italian stamp dedicated to Art Nouveau has been unveiled
The sketch was created by Andrea Speziali, an internationally recognised authority on Art Nouveau and president of the Italia Liberty association
It was officially unveiled on the eve of Art Nouveau Week – scheduled to take place in over 300 cities worldwide from 8 to 14 July - the first Italian stamp dedicated to “Art Nouveau in Italia”, issued by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy as part of the thematic series “The Excellence of Italian Cultural Heritage”. The initiative marks a historic moment for Italian philately: for the first time, a government stamp celebrates Art Nouveau, a movement which in Italia became known as the Liberty style and which made a decisive contribution to the renewal of art, architecture and the decorative arts between the 19th and 20th centuries.
The sketch was created by Andrea Speziali, an internationally recognised authority on Art Nouveau studies. An artist, researcher and president of the Italia Liberty association, Speziali has been committed to the study and promotion of Art Nouveau for over twenty years, and is regarded as one of Europe’s leading experts on the movement. Through books, exhibitions, conferences, historical research and cultural initiatives, he has made a decisive contribution to the rediscovery of Italy’s Art Nouveau heritage, raising awareness of it amongst the general public and younger generations.
The stamp, together with the commemorative philatelic folder – also designed by Speziali – carries great symbolic and cultural significance. It is not merely a tribute to a pivotal artistic period in European modernity, but an institutional recognition of the research and outreach work that, in recent years, has brought Art Nouveau back into the international spotlight.
Side events in Bari to mark the stamp issue
The issue forms part of the Art Nouveau Week programme, an international event organised by Italia Liberty, now in its eighth year. The event will involve over 300 cities worldwide through guided tours, exhibitions, conferences, cultural itineraries and initiatives dedicated to the architecture, painting, sculpture, graphic design and applied arts of the Belle Époque.
To mark the issue of the stamp series, from 8 to 14 July 2026, the Palazzo della Città in Bari will host the exhibition “The Contemporary Spirit of Art Nouveau. Andrea Speziali: Between Memory, Graphic Design and the Liberty Vision”, promoted by Bari City Council and organised by the Italia Liberty association.
