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Contemporary Printmaking in Central-Southern Italy: A Survey of Artists, Studios, and Institutions

publication · 2026-05-04

This article explores modern printmaking in central-southern Italy, highlighting significant institutions, artists, and studios. The Istituto Centrale della Grafica, which succeeded the Calcografia Nazionale established in 1738, possesses a collection of over 100,000 prints and 23,000 matrices. Recent exhibitions showcased Giulia Napoleone (b. 1936) and included a 2017 display featuring Andrea Lelario, Patrizio Di Sciullo, and Francesco Parisi. Guido Strazza (b. 1922) had a solo exhibition in 2017 and has impacted the field since the 1960s. Prominent artists such as Elisabetta Diamanti, Gianna Bentivenga, and Alessandro Fornaci, co-founder of Stamperia del Tevere, are noted. Historic workshops like Bulla and 2RC are also mentioned. In Basilicata, MIG in Castronuovo Sant'Andrea has a notable collection, while Andrea De Simeis is active in Puglia, and Sandro Bracchitta creates graphics in Sicily.

Key facts

  • Istituto Centrale della Grafica holds over 100,000 prints and 23,000 matrices from the 16th century onward.
  • Giulia Napoleone (b. 1936) had a recent retrospective at the Istituto Centrale della Grafica.
  • Andrea Lelario, Patrizio Di Sciullo, and Francesco Parisi were featured in a 2017 exhibition at the Istituto Centrale della Grafica.
  • Guido Strazza (b. 1922) had a 2017 solo show at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna.
  • Alessandro Fornaci co-founded Stamperia del Tevere (2004) and Laborintus in Corviale.
  • Gianluca Murasecchi (b. 1965) is considered Italy's most important active printmaker, known for engraved sculptures and installations.
  • MIG – Museo Italiano di Grafica is located in Castronuovo Sant'Andrea, Basilicata.
  • CRAC – Centro di Ricerca Arte Contemporanea in Taranto hosted a Strazza retrospective.

Entities

Artists

  • Giulia Napoleone
  • Andrea Lelario
  • Patrizio Di Sciullo
  • Francesco Parisi
  • Guido Strazza
  • Marina Bindella
  • Elisabetta Diamanti
  • Gianna Bentivenga
  • Maria Pina Bentivenga
  • Alessandro Fornaci
  • Gianluigi Bellucci
  • Andrea Carini
  • Gianluca Murasecchi
  • Vittorio Manno
  • Angelo Rizzelli
  • Andrea De Simeis
  • Sandro Bracchitta
  • Piero Dorazio
  • Cy Twombly
  • Alberto Burri
  • Lucio Fontana
  • Sam Francis
  • Sergio Pandolfini
  • Alfred Korzybski

Institutions

  • Istituto Centrale della Grafica
  • Calcografia Nazionale
  • Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
  • Stamperia del Tevere
  • Laborintus
  • Bulla
  • 2RC
  • Edizioni Il Bulino
  • MIG – Museo Italiano di Grafica
  • Grafica di Via Sette Dolori
  • CRAC – Centro di Ricerca Arte Contemporanea
  • Atelier Insigna
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Pescara
  • Fallo
  • Santa Fiora
  • Perugia
  • Stigliano
  • Corviale
  • Anagni
  • Spoleto
  • Castronuovo Sant'Andrea
  • Basilicata
  • Matera
  • Lecce
  • Maglie
  • Puglia
  • Taranto
  • Ragusa
  • Sicily

Sources