Piero Guccione's legacy lives on through students and disciples in Catania
In the Palazzo Bruca of Catania, artists Giuseppe Puglisi (born 1965) and Piero Zuccaro (born 1967) are dedicated to honoring the legacy of painter Piero Guccione (1935–2018). Their atelier showcases Japanese prints by Hokusai, studies of Beato Angelico, and innovative chandelier designs. Paola Guccione, the daughter of the late artist, has engaged them in the Progetto Accademie alongside students from Catania and Catanzaro. A total of eleven emerging artists produced works in response to Guccione’s art, leading to a virtual exhibition on May 5, which coincides with Guccione's birthday. This exhibition features student creations and 25 d'après by Guccione from 1965 to 2014. Puglisi and Zuccaro highlight Guccione’s reflective artistic style, inspired by Franco Battiato, who constructed their studio in Milo.
Key facts
- Giuseppe Puglisi (Catania, 1965) and Piero Zuccaro (Catania, 1967) are disciples of Piero Guccione.
- Their atelier is in Palazzo Bruca, Catania, near Piazza Duomo.
- The atelier contains Japanese prints by Hokusai, studies of Beato Angelico, and chandelier series from the Benedictine Monastery.
- Franco Battiato learned painting from Puglisi and Zuccaro and left works in their atelier.
- Paola Guccione, daughter of Piero Guccione and president of the Archivio Piero Guccione, initiated the Progetto Accademie.
- The project involved students from Academies of Fine Arts of Catania and Catanzaro.
- A virtual exhibition launched on May 5 (Guccione's birthday) on the Archive's digital platform.
- The exhibition includes 25 d'après by Guccione from 1965 to 2014 and student works.
- Puglisi and Zuccaro met Guccione through Franco Sarnari and joined the Gruppo di Scicli.
- Guccione left Rome for Sicily in the 1970s; Battiato left Milan for Milo.
- Battiato built a studio for Puglisi and Zuccaro in his villa in Milo, with a Ginkgo Biloba tree.
- The first exhibition on Battiato and Guccione was in 1999 in Milan titled 'Il pittore e l'orientalista.'
Entities
Artists
- Piero Guccione
- Giuseppe Puglisi
- Piero Zuccaro
- Franco Battiato
- Hokusai
- Beato Angelico
- Franco Sarnari
- Shitao
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Giulia Bianco
Institutions
- Archivio Piero Guccione
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Catania
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Catanzaro
- Gruppo di Scicli
- Palazzo Bruca
- Convento di San Marco (Florence)
- Monastero dei Benedettini (Catania)
- Duomo di Milano
- Kunsthalle
- Artribune
Locations
- Catania
- Italy
- Scicli
- Modica
- Sicily
- Milo
- Taormina
- Strait of Messina
- Rome
- Milan
- Florence
- Sampieri
- Catanzaro
- Germany