Piero Dorazio

Biographical Sketch

The renowned Italian painter Piero Dorazio was born in Rome on June 29, 1927. Belonging to the 'Movimento d'Arte Concreta' Group of Milan, he shows in his abstractions a preoccupation with Concrete Art and their polarization of politically-bent artistic movements such as Expressionism and the former politically engaged socialist art. While studying architecture (1945-51), he developed an almost concrete painting style based on Cubism and Futurism. He joined the group 'Arte Sociale' in Rome in 1946, a year later wrote the 'Manifesto del formalismo' and then moved to Paris, where he attended the École National Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and became acquainted with a great many of the famous classical Modern artists, the Russian avant-garde, Constructivists, and soon thereafter the avant-garde of his own generation. In 1948 he became involved with the 'Art Club' in Rome and founded a gallery forum, 'Age d'Or', in Rome and Florence, as well as the 'Fondazione Origine' exhibit and information center. Dorazio worked in aluminum, wood and plexiglas reliefs in addition to panel paintings, which led him later in his painting to new structural reductions of form. Eventually, color became the focus of his efforts. Along with Graubner, Fontana and Manzoni, Dorazio mastered the aesthetic color space. The decorative effect is particularly noteworthy, a propensity towards repetitive ornament in the art of linear and plane reduction. Pure primary colors remain a trademark of his painting. He has also created a great deal of work in prints, especially lithographs and etchings, as well as many book illustrations in collaboration with writers and poets (including Ungaretti). Dorazio has taught many classes, particularly in the USA. He gained early fame as a writer and critic on art: publications, works which he edited, essays including 'la fantasia del arte nella vita moderna, 1954/55'. He exhibited his work at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 1994 and has also exhibited around the world. ek

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References:

Piero Dorazio Anthological Exhibition 1946-1993 Athens;

Kritisches Lexikon der Gegenwartskunst Ausgabe Nr. 29/ 1995;

Dorazio Galerie am Lindenplatz , Schaan, FL,1997;

Monographie Piero Dorazio. Erker-Verlag St. Gallen 1976;

Registers of works

Piero Dorazio. Das druckgraphische Werk 1962-1995. : Band I Die Radierungen, Florenz, 1996; Werkverzeichnis der Lithographien in Vorbereitung.

(Vertrieb für die Schweiz: Erker Verlag St. Gallen)

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Note:

The references given are not meant as a list of the best works available on the subject, but simply reflect the author's sources.

Registers and catalogues of works are included when known and correspond to the information given in the index.