Massimo Minini on Italian Art Photographers and His United Artists of Italy Collection
In a conversation with Artribune, gallerist Massimo Minini reflects on his involvement with Italian art photographers, which led to the 2008 book and exhibition titled "United Artists of Italy" at Le Stelline in Milan. He established his gallery, Banco, in Brescia in 1973, later renaming it Galleria Massimo Minini in 1981. Minini has curated a collection showcasing photographs of artists in their creative spaces, featuring notable names such as Ugo Mulas and Elisabetta Catalano, with Mulas being recognized for his studio captures. He shares his efforts to acquire Catalano's work and mentions emerging photographers like Stefano Becchetti, alongside pieces by Mario Dondero. He likens his archival approach to Aby Warburg's Mnemosyne Atlas and contemplates the evolving view of art photography.
Key facts
- Massimo Minini is a gallerist from Brescia who has collected and exhibited Italian art photographers.
- In 2008, he published the book 'United Artists of Italy' and held a corresponding exhibition at Le Stelline in Milan.
- The book and collection feature photographs of Italian artists taken by Italian photographers, spanning over fifty years.
- Minini founded his gallery as Banco in Brescia in 1973, later renamed Galleria Massimo Minini in 1981.
- Ugo Mulas is highlighted as a pivotal figure who revolutionized artist portraiture by capturing artists in their studios.
- Elisabetta Catalano's work is extensively collected by Minini, who is part of her archive and defends her legacy.
- Nanda Lanfranco is noted for her portraits of artist couples, including Giovanni Anselmo and Enzo Cucchi.
- Gianfranco Gorgoni photographed artists in the desert for Land Art and also captured Fidel Castro in Cuba.
- Gabriele Basilico, primarily an architectural photographer, also made portraits of artists like Alberto Burri.
- Minini compares his collection to Aby Warburg's Mnemosyne Atlas and finds a parallel with artist Hans-Peter Feldmann.
Entities
Artists
- Massimo Minini
- Paolo Mussat Sartor
- Ugo Mulas
- Mario Dondero
- Lee Bontecou
- Barnett Newman
- Giulio Paolini
- Jannis Kounellis
- Elisabetta Catalano
- Fabio Mauri
- Vettor Pisani
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Mario Merz
- Alighiero Boetti
- Domenico Gnoli
- Alberto Giacometti
- Palma Bucarelli
- Nanda Lanfranco
- Giovanni Anselmo
- Enzo Cucchi
- Eva Marisaldi
- Marisa Merz
- Meret Oppenheim
- Gianfranco Gorgoni
- Sol LeWitt
- Andy Warhol
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Fidel Castro
- Uliano Lucas
- Piero Manzoni
- Gabriele Basilico
- Alberto Burri
- Gianni Berengo Gardin
- Mario Cresci
- Nino Migliori
- Mimmo Jodice
- Federico Garolla
- Giorgio Morandi
- Luigi Ghirri
- Walter Bastari
- Mario Giacomelli
- Stefano Becchetti
- Alberto Becchetti
- Enrico Cattaneo
- Johnny Ricci
- Ermete Marzoni
- Maria Mulas
- Nini Mulas
- Fabrizio Garghetti
- Mario De Biasi
- Joseph Beuys
- Daniel Buren
- Mario Ceroli
- Corrado Cagli
- Vincenzo Agnetti
- Giuseppe Marchiori
- Gio Ponti
- Federico Zeri
- Gastone Novelli
- Lucio Fontana
- Eliseo Mattiacci
- Hans-Peter Feldmann
- Aby Warburg
- Carla Lonzi
- Angela Madesani
- Silvia Gazzola
- Giorgio Colombo
- Claudio Abate
- Paolo Pellion di Persano
- Aurelio Amendola
Institutions
- Artribune
- Galleria Massimo Minini
- Banco
- Le Stelline
- Photology
- Archivio Elisabetta Catalano
- Galleria La Nuova Pesa
- Museo Morandi
- Palazzo Re Enzo
- Artribune Magazine
Locations
- Brescia
- Italy
- Milan
- Rome
- Liguria
- United States
- Cuba
- Bomba
- Abruzzo
- Senigallia
- Spoleto
- Venice
- Bologna
- Naples