Temple of Flowers / Tempio di Fiori, Austin Young, 2025–2026. Commissioned by Chiostro del Bramante, Rome - photo by Giovanni De Angelis
Temple of Flowers/
Tempio di Fiori
Austin Young
Chiostro del Bramante | museum, Rome
Opening: February 14, 2025
On view: February 14, 2025 – February 22, 2026
Extended / continued: FLOWERS – Meravigliosa Natura, March 18, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Via della Pace, 5, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Temple of Flowers / Tempio di Fiori is a site-specific immersive installation by Austin Young, commissioned by Chiostro del Bramante for the exhibition FLOWERS in Rome. Through photography, printed textiles, vinyl, color, and light, the work transforms the Renaissance cloister into a contemporary sanctuary inspired by its architecture, history, and enduring role as a place of contemplation.
Created specifically for the courtyard of Chiostro del Bramante, completed in 1504 as part of Santa Maria della Pace, the installation is conceived as an architectural intervention rather than an object placed within a space. Sixteen arches become portals layered with original photography, archival imagery, and botanical symbolism, inviting visitors to move through the cloister as a sequence of immersive encounters. “I wasn’t interested in placing an artwork inside the cloister. I wanted the architecture itself to become the artwork.” - Austin Young
Developed through research in Roman libraries, archives, and botanical collections, the work draws upon flowers associated with both the ancient cult of Venus and the Virgin Mary, revealing how botanical symbolism has bridged pagan and Christian traditions for centuries. Young combines these historical references with his own photographic archive to create a visual language that connects memory, spirituality, and the natural world.
Rather than altering the architecture, Temple of Flowers / Tempio di Fiori amplifies its original purpose. Once designed as a place where prayer and sacred chant resonated through the cloister, the courtyard is reimagined as a contemporary spiritual space open to all. Beauty becomes a form of welcome, encouraging contemplation, connection, and shared experience regardless of faith or background.
“Temple of Flowers is located in the central courtyard of Chiostro del Bramante, a Renaissance cloister completed in 1504 as part of Santa Maria della Pace in the heart of Rome. Originally, the courtyard served as a place of reflection and daily prayer for priests living in community. Its architecture was designed to amplify prayer and sacred chant throughout the space. Inspired by this history, Temple of Flowers reimagines the cloister as a contemporary sanctuary dedicated to the divine feminine. The architectural intervention invites visitors into quiet contemplation and connection—with themselves, with one another, and with the sacred.” - Austin Young
above photos courtesy of Sylvie Robert
“Temple of Flowers is a milestone in my practice“Temple of Flowers is a milestone in my practice.. My work has become a form of storytelling.” — Austin Young
Official Exhibition Page
Chiostro del Bramante, Rome
Fragile and powerful, flowers speak a universal language that transcends centuries and cultures.…
Read here
Flowers
Dal Rinascimento all'intelligenza artificiale
Silvana Editoriale
Fragili e potenti, i fiori parlano un linguaggio universale capace di attraversare i secoli e le culture. Raccontano..
Read here
Detail of the floor installation for Temple of Flowers by Austin Young at Chiostro del Bramante, Rome.
Austin Young, sketch for Temple of Flowers, 2025
Austin Young, Temple of Flowers, detail of floor, 2025, commissioned by Chiostro del Bramante , photograph by Giovanni De Angelis
Austin Young, Temple of Flowers, detail , 2025, commissioned by Chiostro del Bramante , photograph by Giovanni De Angelis
Austin Young, Sketch for Temple of Flowers, 2025. Used as the primary visual for the exhibition FLOWERS and its accompanying catalog.
Austin Young, Sketch for Temple of Flowers, 2025. Used as the primary visual for the exhibition FLOWERS and its accompanying catalog.
Critical Reception
“a true evocation of a paradise on earth, creating a sensory journey.”
- Collater.al, Flowers Transforms the Chiostro del Bramante into a Paradise on Earth
“a scenographic site-specific installation…in dialogue with the Renaissance frescoes and the Bramante’s architecture.”
- Juliet Art Magazine, Flowers: From the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence at Chiostro del Bramante, Rome
“Site-specific installations by Rebecca Louise Law and Austin Young…sit beside the work of Jan Brueghel and William Morris.”
- My Modern Met, Immersive Exhibition Explores Timeless Beauty of Flowers Across Five Centuries of Art
“completely transformed into an earthly paradise thanks to the installation by Austin Young.
- Thursd, Rome’s ‘Flowers’ Exhibit Spans Renaissance to AI
Exhibition Details
| Title | Temple of Flowers / Tempio di Fiori |
| Artist | Austin Young |
| Type | primary Commission site-specific installation / group exhibition |
| Venue | Chiostro del Bramante, Rome, Italy |
| Dates | February 14, 2025 – February 22, 2026 |
| Extended / continued | FLOWERS – Meravigliosa Natura, March 18, 2026 – September 6, 2026 |
| Materials and elements | Original photography, archival imagery, printed fabric, vinyl, color, and light |
| Location within exhibition | Central courtyard of Chiostro del Bramante |
| Catalogue | Flowers. Dal Rinascimento all’intelligenza artificiale, published by Silvana Editoriale |
| Catalogue texts | Laura, Giulia and Natalia de Marco, Roger Diederen, Franziska Stöhr, Suzanne Landau |
| Curators | Franziska Stöhr with Roger Diederen, in collaboration with Suzanne Landau |
| Related projects |
BEAUTY! Marriage of the Sea La Visione di Pietro |
Press & References
