In 1973, during a period of temporary blindness spent in Rome, between the eye clinic directed by Prof. Bietti and his home, Villa Strohl-Fern, the writer and painter Carlo Levi (Turin 1902 – Rome 1975) produced 145 drawings. Years after his death, these works of art were found and purchased by Antonino Milicia, a Sicilian emigrant farmer who had known Levi in Switzerland. Last week, the exhibition “Blind Visions” opened at New York University’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò directed by Stefano Albertini, with 42 of these drawings on display for the first time outside of Italy until December 13^th.

The exhibition, curated by Nino Sottile Zumbo, and with the participation of Mr. Milicia, opened on Tuesday, September 10^th. We spoke with Mr. Milicia the next day at the Casa Italiana, together with Prof. Gian Paolo Berto online, a painter, and among Levi’s favorite students, who assisted Levi during his period of temporary blindness.