A Collector's Guide to Buying Alighiero Boetti
This article serves as a personal guide for those interested in collecting pieces by Italian artist Alighiero Boetti, detailing his artistic journey from the 1960s through the 1990s. It emphasizes significant phases and notable works, including the early 1960s paintings inspired by Nicolas De Staël, the monochrome pieces from 1963-65, and the iconic 1966 creations like 'Lampada annuale', 'Ping Pong', and 'Catasta' showcased at Castello di Rivoli. Additionally, it covers the camouflage fabrics, the 1967 wooden and paper 'dame' (checkerboards), and the 1968 paper doily columns, one of which fetched €2.634 million at auction in 2014. The author suggests collectors focus on vibrant, text-rich works with solid provenance, highlighting phrases like 'Far quadrare tutto' and noting that 68% of Boetti's sold pieces are tapestries.
Key facts
- Boetti's early 1960s works show influence of Nicolas De Staël.
- From 1966, Boetti created iconic works like 'Lampada annuale' and 'Ping Pong'.
- The 1968 columns include one that sold for €2.634 million at auction in 2014.
- Boetti's 'Mappe' are embroidered maps where conflicts change borders.
- The artist preferred the color red and moved to Rome for its colors.
- 68% of Boetti's sold works are tapestries (arazzi).
- Recommended phrases for collectors include 'Far quadrare tutto' and 'Non parto non resto'.
- Works with Farsi or French text appeal to Middle Eastern and French markets.
Entities
Artists
- Alighiero Boetti
- Nicolas De Staël
- Antonin Artaud
- Arnaldo Pomodoro
- Rufo Sperone
- Peppino Agrati
- Sandro Penna
- Mario Schifano
- Giorgio Colombo
- Agata
Institutions
- Castello di Rivoli
- GAM di Torino
- Collezione da Tiffany
Locations
- Torino
- Italy
- Roma
- France