Giacomo Balla's Futurist Works at Fondazione Ferrero in Alba

The Fondazione Ferrero in Alba presents 'Futurballa', a comprehensive exhibition on Giacomo Balla (Turin, 1871 – Rome, 1958), curated by Ester Coen, running until February 27, 2017. The show traces Balla's evolution from his early Divisionist works to his full embrace of Futurism, featuring iconic paintings such as 'Bambina che corre sul balcone' (1912) depicting his daughter Luce, 'Dinamismo di un cane al guinzaglio' from Buffalo, 'Espansione dinamica + velocità' from GAM Rome, and 'La mano del violinista' from London. Alongside these, a rich array of sketches, drawings, and studies—including dozens of 'Studio per compenetrazione iridescente'—illuminate his analytical approach to light, movement, and speed, influenced by Einstein's discoveries. The exhibition also covers Balla's formation: born in Turin, he moved to Rome in 1895, worked with typographer Pietro Cassina and photographers Bertieri, and was shaped by the 1900 Paris Exposition's electric light. His early works depict social outcasts with empathy, as seen in 'La pazza' and 'Il mendicante'. A stay in Düsseldorf provided further cultural stimuli. The show concludes with letters, postcards, and objects designed by Balla, who signed as 'Futurballa' and later returned to figuration in the 1930s.