Vittorio Calabrese is an Italian-born, New York based cultural strategist and arts management consultant, with extensive experience in museum institutions, nonprofits, philanthropy, and research initiatives.

From 2015 to January 2024, Vittorio served as the Founding Executive Director of Magazzino Italian Art, a private museum in Cold Spring, NY, devoted to Post-war and Contemporary Italian Art, founded by Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu. Working there since its inception, he was instrumental in developing the museum’s voice, branding, and operations, turning the founders’ vision into reality. He played a pivotal role in transforming Magazzino Italian Art from a private initiative into an institution, overseeing the construction of the museum’s 25,000 sq. ft. main building, designed by Miguel Quismondo, and its expansion in 2023 with the opening of the 15,000 sq. ft. Robert Olnick Pavilion, co-designed by Quismondo and Alberto Campo Baeza. During his 9-year tenure, Calabrese spearheaded the institution’s artistic and editorial direction, building and managing a team of up to 35 people. encompassing leadership and strategy, community building, curation and programming, fundraising, corporate partnerships, management, marketing and communications. 

Prior to his appointment at Magazzino, he held positions at galleries, auction houses, and private institutions.

Born in Irpinia, Italy, he holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, a MA in History of Art and the Art Market: Modern & Contemporary from Christie’s Education, New York, and both a BA and MA in Management of Government and International Institutions from Milan’s Bocconi University.