Michelangelo Pistoletto and CIRCA Launch Global 'Preventive Peace' Initiative

Year-long public artwork transforms city screens into a call for civic action and humanitarian aid.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:12am

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Renowned artist Michelangelo Pistoletto is partnering with CIRCA to launch a global public artwork titled "Three Mirrors" that will be broadcast daily on screens in major cities around the world. The project, presented in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, aims to promote "Preventive Peace" and raise awareness for the UN's 2026 humanitarian appeal to assist 87 million people affected by crisis worldwide.

Why it matters

In an era marked by climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical instability, Pistoletto's project positions art as a form of civic action and shared responsibility, rather than just commentary. By transforming some of the world's most visible urban spaces into platforms for reflection and participation, the initiative reinforces the urgency of global solidarity and peacemaking.

The details

The year-long "Three Mirrors" project will unfold as a triptych of interconnected works - "Third Paradise," "Formula of Creation," and "Statodellarte" - that expand Pistoletto's longstanding exploration of the mirror as a relational device. Broadcast daily at 20:26 local time, the work will appear on screens from London to Los Angeles, Milan to Seoul. Additionally, the public will be invited to collectively recreate the "Third Paradise" symbol in Piazza del Duomo during Milan's Salone del Mobile design fair. The collaboration will also include a series of 12 hand-signed mirrored editions, with 20% of net proceeds supporting CIRCA and Cittadellarte's public programs and the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund.

  • On April 1, 2026, the "Three Mirrors" project will launch globally.
  • On April 24, 2026, during Salone del Mobile in Milan, the public will be invited to collectively recreate the "Third Paradise" symbol in Piazza del Duomo.

The players

Michelangelo Pistoletto

A renowned Italian artist who is known for his Mirror Paintings and his work exploring the relationship between art and society. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.

CIRCA

An arts organization that partners with artists to create large-scale public artworks and interventions.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

The UN agency responsible for coordinating global humanitarian response, including the 2026 appeal to assist 87 million people affected by crisis worldwide.

Josef O'Connor

The founder and artistic director of CIRCA, who curated the collaboration with Pistoletto.

Tom Fletcher

The United Nations Relief Chief, who emphasized the importance of art in challenging complacency and promoting global solidarity.

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What they’re saying

“With my Mirror Paintings, the image is no longer closed within the artwork. It opens itself to reality and to the present moment. Through my collaboration with CIRCA, this reflection becomes collective: the city, its inhabitants and the passing of time enter the work, transforming the mirror into a shared space of awareness and responsibility.”

— Michelangelo Pistoletto

“2026 must be the year the world chooses solidarity over indifference – peace over war. The lives of 87 million people hang in the balance. Art can challenge complacency and remind us of our shared responsibility. That is why partnerships like this one with Michelangelo Pistoletto and CIRCA matter. At a time of brutal conflicts and shrinking resources, this collaboration is a call to conscience.”

— Tom Fletcher, United Nations Relief Chief

“This is the most ambitious collaboration CIRCA has undertaken. Working with Michelangelo Pistoletto and Cittadellarte across an entire year, in partnership with the United Nations, allows us to articulate a single proposition. Art as a shared responsibility. Art as a living idea. Art as an active contribution to peace.”

— Josef O'Connor, Founder and Artistic Director of CIRCA

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This project highlights how art can be leveraged as a powerful tool for promoting civic engagement, global solidarity, and humanitarian action in the face of pressing world crises. By transforming public spaces into platforms for collective reflection and participation, Pistoletto and CIRCA are redefining the role of art in society.