The collections were moved to this site, consisting of the former Franciscan convent associated with Sant'Anna and the adjacent Palazzo Bonet.

The Teatro Politeama on Piazza Ruggero Settimo, just north of the central Palermo was completed by the late 19th century, and to lure more visitors and create a cultural landmark, a painting and sculptor gallery, named after its initial patron, Empedocle Restivo, was installed in 1910 in the second floor foyer featuring mainly local contemporary talent.

In 2006, it was decided to move the enlarging collection to a more central space, and the city had available the large former Franciscan convent near the church of Sant'Anna, and it adjacent former Palazzo Bonet, a former 15th-century residence.

Starting in 1996, the Municipality funded the refurbishment, creating more than 1,300 square meters of exhibition spaces, and rooms for educational activities, conference halls, library, archives, bookshop and cafeteria.

[1] The gallery houses works of important artists like Giovanni Boldini, Massimo Campigli, Carlo Carrà, Felice Casorati, Eustachio Catalano, Giorgio de Chirico, Ettore De Maria Bergler, Emilio Greco, Renato Guttuso, Nino Franchina, Lia Pasqualino Noto, Antonino Leto, Salvatore Lo Forte, Francesco Lo Jacono, Vincenzo Ragusa, Pippo Rizzo, Mario Rutelli, Aleardo Terzi, Onofrio Tomaselli, Mario Sironi, Franz von Stuck and Elisa Maria Boglino.