Claudio Cintoli's New York Period Explored in Jesi Exhibition

An exhibition at Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Jesi examines Claudio Cintoli's (Imola, 1935 – Rome, 1978) production from June 1964 to early 1967, focusing on his New York sojourn. The show features 19 large-scale paintings executed with pictorial collage technique, divided into three thematic cycles: weekly covers, gardens, and sea. Works like "Bè Bè ô Blé" (1965) and "Due Dita" (1964) exemplify Cintoli's signature "disturbing image"—an anatomical detail superimposed on a landscape. After visiting the Venice Biennale and meeting his first wife Gill, Cintoli moved to New York on August 4, 1965. He immersed himself in the city's art scene, visiting museums, galleries, and artists' studios. In a letter to critic Alberto Boatto, he described New York as "stalagmitic between cement and iron." His New York output includes large canvases like "Sweet Skin," "Giardino ai Tropici," and "Volo verso la luna" (1966). The exhibition also highlights "Flamingos" (1966), one of his largest New York paintings, dedicated to flight and destined for collector Franco Pesci. Cintoli's work from this period shows the influence of René Magritte, whose retrospective he visited three times at MoMA in early 1966. The show is curated by Ludovico Pratesi.