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Lucio Del Pezzo
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
Biography and formation
Born in Naples in 1933, Del Pezzo began his artistic career within the neosurrealist and neodadaist trends promoted by the Group 58 of Naples, an innovative movement that sought to break with previous artistic traditions and explore new forms of expression. Del Pezzo was among the founders of this group, actively contributing to its mission of cultural renewal. His works from the period 1958-1960 consisted of assemblages of various objects, including fragments of prints and popular images such as ex-votos, enriched by signs and chromatic traces that reflected a vibrant interaction between the everyday and art. This approach not only questioned the traditional value of art but also sought to engage the viewer in a visually rich dialogue full of meaning.
Artistic influences and painting language
From 1960, his artistic journey led him to move first to Paris and then to Milan, two cities that would have a significant impact on his artistic production. In Milan, his work received recognition and attention, culminating in dedicated solo exhibitions, the first of which took place in 1974, marking a crucial moment in his career. Starting in 1962, Del Pezzo developed a distinctive repertoire of "paintings" or "sculptures," characterized by monochrome geometric panels to which shelves or concave cavities were applied. These structural elements supported or included regular geometric bodies, such as spheres, bowling pins, wooden eggs, mannequin busts, and targets, sometimes vividly colored, creating a visual contrast that invited reflection.
Although the artist often referenced mythical thought and esoteric disciplines in his works, the overall effect of his assemblages is rather playful and whimsical. Due to the ironic tone and the inclusion of decontextualized everyday objects, his works evoke Pop Art, but on the level of formal matrices, there is a clear reference to De Chirico, Morandi, and the silent geometries of metaphysical painting, which give his creations conceptual depth and a connection to the European artistic tradition.
2000s and retrospectives
In 2000, Del Pezzo created four large ceramic reliefs and a bronze sculpture for two stations of the new Naples metro, a project that not only enriched the urban environment but also represented a tribute to his hometown. That same year, the Mathildenhöhe Institute in Darmstadt presented the first major retrospective of his work in Germany, offering the public the opportunity to explore the evolution of his artistic language and his influence in the contemporary landscape. This retrospective not only highlighted his versatility and creativity but also solidified his status as a prominent figure in modern art.
He passed away in Milan on April 12, 2020, leaving an artistic legacy that continues to inspire and stimulate debate about the nature of art and its ability to interact with everyday reality.
