Rome, Latium, Italy
Based in Rome, Victoria Noel-Johnson (M.A. Hons, Ph.D.) is an independent British art historian and curator, specialising in 20th century European art, with expert knowledge of Giorgio de Chirico’s work (1888-1978) and the Parisien avant-garde of the early 20th century. Her analysis of important 20th century artists, as well as the reconstruction of now-dispersed European art collections and historic exhibitions, forms the basis of recent and forthcoming publications and projects. She is a member of ICOM and ICRA (International Catalogue Raisonné Association). Over recent years, Dr Noel-Johnson has curated numerous museum and institutional exhibitions, a selection of which include: • "Dalí: Rivoluzione e Tradizione, curated by L. Moni and C. Ruiz, with scientific direction by M. Aguer and consultancy by V. Noel-Johnson, Museo del Corso, Rome, 17 October 2025 – 1 February 2026; • "Giorgio de Chirico: 1924", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, Museo di Arti Decorative, Fondazione Accorsi-Ometto, Turin, 8 November 2024 - 2 March 2025; • "Giorgio de Chirico: Metafisica continua", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, Galleria d'arte moderna, Palazzo Sarcinelli, Conegliano (Veneto), 11 October 2023 - 17 March 2024; • "Kay Sage and Yves Tanguy: Ring of Iron, Ring of Wool", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, Helly Nahmad Gallery, New York, 9 May – 29 July 2023; • "Lee Miller - Man Ray: Fashion, Love, War", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, Palazzo Franchetti, Venice, 5 November 2022 – 10 April 2023; • "Joan Miró: The Essence of Past and Present Things", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, BAM – Musée des Beaux Arts, Mons, Belgium, 8 October 2022 – 8 January 2023; • "Picasso, de Chirico and Dalì: A Dialogue with Raphael", curated by B. Avanzi and V. Noel-Johnson, Museo d'arte moderna di Rovereto e Trento (MART), Rovereto, 2 May - 29 August 2021; • "Giorgio de Chirico: The Changing Face of Metaphysical Art", curated by V. Noel-Johnson, Palazzo Ducale, Genoa, 30 March - 1 September 2019.
• Management of the Foundation’s 550-piece art collection and the de Chirico House-museum (Piazza di Spagna); • Management of the Foundation’s international ‘Exhibitions & Events’ programme (including shows in Europe, Russia, Japan, China and Brazil): involving loan fee negotiations; the drawing up and signing of multi-party contracts; submitting and overseeing requests for ministerial temporary exportation licences in Italy (including those with notified export bans) concerning Fondazione de Chirico’s own collection and private collections; overseeing all insurance, shipping and custom issues regarding outgoing and incoming temporary loans; • Co-curator of and/or curatorial input for various exhibitions on de Chirico, including Palazzo delle Esposizioni (Rome 2010), Scuderie del Castello Visconteo (Pavia 2010), Castel del Monte (Andria 2011), Il Serrone di Villa Reale (Monza 2014-2015), and The State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow 2017); • Academic supervision, coordination and/or editing of numerous exhibition catalogues, volumes and books, including "La Casa-museo de Chirico" (2009) and "Giorgio de Chirico. Catalogo ragionato dell’opera sacra" (2012); • Responsible for producing ministerial applications for public funds destined for non-profit organisations to finance artistic and cultural projects; • Management of national and international image and literary copyright requests regarding the Giorgio de Chirico Estate, as well as droit de suite checks, with daily interaction with international copyright societies (principally SIAE, DACS and ADAGP); • Development and management of working relationships with international museums, galleries, institutes, academies, auction houses, private art collectors, as well as art critics and journalists; • Author of "De Chirico and the United Kingdom (c. 1916-1978)" (2017, pp. 831), featuring over 550 documents sourced from 50 international archives (nominated for the "William MB Berger Prize for British Art History", 2018).
• Complete rebranding of the former UK’s oldest art gallery on occasion of its 200th anniversary (1808-2008), including launch of the Contemporary Art department and implementation of its in-house exhibition programme; • Locate late 19th – early 20th century European artwork for acquisition and write bespoke historical and technical texts based on in-depth research of individual pieces.
• Management of the Foundation’s authentication service, involving daily contact with international auction houses, galleries and collectors; • Organisation and coordination of numerous national and international exhibitions about de Chirico, including the touring exhibition in Japan (2015-2016, Kitakyushu, Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Tokushima and Sapporo); • Start-up and organisation of the Foundation’s Research Archive, building and reinforcing connections with institutions, libraries, archives and research centres worldwide; • Set-up and management of an auction sale database, together with the tracking of public and private collections of de Chirico’s work.
• Autumn Internship (2002, Director: Dr. Bartolomeo Pietromarchi) – Contemporary Art Programme, 'Arte, Architettura, Urbanistica' Department • Assistance with EU fund applications for European contemporary art projects that promote local cultural and social interaction.