At Rhinoceros Roma — which is neither a hotel nor a gallery in the traditional sense — hospitality becomes a framework for artistic dialogue, and architecture becomes a medium for cultural exchange. Alessia Fendi, director of Rhinoceros Roma, operates at an intersection of legacy and authorship. Born into one of the fashion world’s most storied families, she has chosen not to extend inheritance linearly, but to redirect it into something more enduring.
In a city defined by permanence, Fendi’s work is less about preservation and more about renewal — designing spaces where art is not displayed but lived, and where patronage evolves from ownership into participation. In this exclusive conversation with Robb Report India, she speaks about culture, embracing the past and present, and a standout collaboration.
Alessia Fendi (AF): I believe art has many ways to reveal itself and, especially today, we can say that the two worlds — art and fashion — are not that far away from each other. Together with my mother, Alda, I had the opportunity of working closely with a genius like Karl Lagerfeld back then, and today, I have the privilege of living close to art and the artists.
It is an enlightenment for the soul and a restless search that we carry out at Rhinoceros Roma through collaborations with international galleries exhibiting in Italy for the first time. The Rhinoceros Gallery is a space dedicated to contemporary art and design, nourishing Rome with the beauty found around the world.
AF: I desired to create a space that brings art and life together. Rhinoceros Roma is a neighbourhood dedicated to art and the artists, inspired by Les Passages de Paris by Walter Benjamin.
I wanted to create a space where one can be part of an integrated experience: Staying in the apartments, visiting the artistic spaces, and enjoying the gallery restaurant, while admiring the domes of Rome and the Palatine Hill.
AF: At Rhinoceros Roma, we embrace the past and present, using the city’s rich narrative as a backdrop to showcase innovative voices. Pushing avant-garde ideas here is a way of renewing Rome’s cultural energy without erasing its legacy.
AF: Fondazione Alda Fendi – Esperimenti originated from Alda Fendi's dream of being deeply involved in the arts after years of international success in the family brand.
It is here at Rhinoceros that the Foundation laid a foundational stone, creating the first intercultural bridge connecting Rome and the rest of the world through a partnership with the Hermitage Museum, which brought masterpieces by Michelangelo, El Greco, and Picasso to Rome for the first time.
Rhinoceros has roots in those experiments and its essence in an autonomous and independent identity. This is important in providing its purpose as a living testament to the power of cultural synthesis and architectural innovation.
AF: Culture is the foundation of everything we do. Every commission, installation, and collaboration is chosen for its intellectual and emotional resonance with every individual who visits Rhinoceros Roma.
AF: At Rhinoceros Roma, we provide support, exposure, and mentorship to emerging artists, creating opportunities for experimentation and visibility that shape the next generation of cultural leaders.
At the end of March, Rhinoceros Roma will partner with a Brazilian gallery called A Gentil Carioca, based in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. For the very first time, the Rhinoceros Gallery will showcase Brazilian artist Miguel Afa with his exhibition O tempo que mora em mim (The Time I Carry Within Me), focusing on his memories of Rome.
AF: Women provide different perspectives that bring collaboration, intuition, and community alongside ambition. For these reasons, throughout centuries and across history, women have always been involved in art, collecting, and patronage. From Hildegard of Bingen and Caterina de’ Medici to — in more recent times — Peggy Guggenheim, women have played a significant role in supporting art and architecture, while shaping and directing the cultural trends of their time.