Italian actress Sophia Loren is spending the days leading up to her 80th birthday promoting an art gallery in Mexico celebrating her career.

The Oscar winner's most prized possessions including a wardrobe, awards, and books, are on display in an exhibit called Sophia Loren: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow at the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City.

Loren was on hand to open the gallery on Thursday (18Sep14), and was humbled by the extensive collection, which celebrates her entire career in show business.

She told the crowd at the news conference, "This is not a celebration of the past but the prologue of a beautiful life that has given me a lot... I'm very moved by this, it's a beautiful exhibit."

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, owner of the Soumaya, approached Loren with the idea for the exhibit two years ago, and now fans can view treasures from her personal and professional life, including original screenplays from her films, portraits of the actress, as well as her Best Actress Academy Award for Italian war drama Two Women.

As she unveiled the golden statue, Loren recalled the moment she received the coveted trophy, and said, "One feels out of this world, it's like falling in love."

A red carpet gala will be held at the museum on Saturday (20Sep14) on Loren's 80th birthday, and the exhibit will officially open to the public on 22 September (14).