Roman sculptor Bruno Conte dies at 81
Bruno Conte, a sculptor from Rome, passed away on February 2, 2021, at the age of 81. He was born in 1939 in the city and shifted his focus from graphic art—both figurative and abstract-surreal—to sculpture. Conte was linked to Galleria dell'Obelisco and participated in the 7th and 8th Rome Quadriennale (1955, 1960) as well as the 28th Venice Biennale (1956). He worked alongside notable figures like Emilio Villa, Nanni Balestrini, and Mirella Bentivoglio, receiving critiques from Maurizio Fagiolo and Gillo Dorfles. His artistic journey progressed to monochrome paintings and three-dimensional pieces in the 1980s. Notable solo exhibitions were held at Galleria Numero Florence (1961) and Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Rome (2018), with his works residing in collections such as Museo Civico Turin and the Paul Getty Museum.
Key facts
- Bruno Conte died February 2, 2021 in Rome at age 81.
- Born in Rome in 1939, he began with figurative and abstract-surreal works.
- He was associated with Galleria dell'Obelisco in Rome.
- Participated in 7th and 8th Rome Quadriennale (1955, 1960) and 28th Venice Biennale (1956).
- Exhibited with Emilio Villa, Nanni Balestrini, Mirella Bentivoglio.
- Critics who wrote about him include Maurizio Fagiolo, Gillo Dorfles, Luciano Caramel, Filiberto Menna, Cesare Vivaldi, Arturo Schwartz.
- Solo exhibitions at Galleria Numero Florence (1961), New Vision London (1965), Galleria Schwarz Basel (1973), Studio Cavalieri Bologna (1977), Galleria Blu Milan (1978), Galleria Il Segno Rome, Palazzo Diamanti Ferrara (1987), Palazzo Ducale Urbino (1992), Musma Matera (2007), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Rome (2018).
- Works held in Museo Civico Turin, Mart, Maga Gallarate, Uffizi Florence, Santa Barbara park, Eni Collection, Paul Getty Museum, SUNY Potsdam, Jean Brown Archive, Museo de Quito, Museo de Perth.
Entities
Artists
- Bruno Conte
- Emilio Villa
- Nanni Balestrini
- Mirella Bentivoglio
- Maurizio Fagiolo
- Gillo Dorfles
- Luciano Caramel
- Filiberto Menna
- Cesare Vivaldi
- Arturo Schwartz
Institutions
- Galleria dell'Obelisco
- Galleria Numero
- New Vision
- Galleria Schwarz
- Studio Cavalieri
- Galleria Blu
- Galleria Il Segno
- Palazzo Diamanti
- Palazzo Ducale
- Musma
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Mart – Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto
- Museo Civico di Torino
- Maga di Gallarate
- Galleria degli Uffizi
- Parco di sculture all'aperto di Santa Barbara
- Raccolta Eni
- Museo Paul Getty
- State University di Potsdam
- Jean Brown Archive
- Museo di Quito
- Museo di Perth
- Quadriennale di Roma
- Biennale di Venezia
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Florence
- London
- United Kingdom
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Bologna
- Milan
- Ferrara
- Urbino
- Matera
- Trento
- Rovereto
- Turin
- Gallarate
- Reggio Calabria
- Santa Monica
- California
- United States
- Potsdam
- New York
- Tyringham
- Massachusetts
- Quito
- Ecuador
- Perth
- Australia