Eliseo Mattiacci biography

Eliseo Mattiacci was a renowned Italian artist, born in Cagli in 1940 and passed away in 2019 in Fossombrone. From the early years of his education, he showed a strong inclination towards sculptural art. After attending the Istituto Statale d'Arte Gaetano Lapis in Cagli, he continued his studies at the Istituto di Belle Arti in Pesaro, obtaining his diploma in 1959.
Eliseo Mattiacci's debut in the art world takes place in 1961, when he presents his first solo exhibition, a group show dedicated to young artists, at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome. On this occasion, the artwork Uomo meccanico, made of metal with assembled recycled materials, earns him the first prize and attracts the attention of critics and the public.
In 1964, Eliseo Mattiacci moved to Rome, where he became part of the vibrant cultural scene of those years. Here, he had the opportunity to exhibit at one of the most representative galleries of the Roman art scene of the time, La Tartaruga, which dedicated a solo exhibition to him in 1967. This exhibition marked the first major critical and public success for the artist. On this occasion, Eliseo Mattiacci filled the gallery with a 150-meter-long flexible nickel-plated iron tube, painted in Agip yellow, transported through the streets of the city. His innovative and provocative artwork captured the attention of the public and the press, sparking a debate on the definition and limits of art.
In the following years, Eliseo Mattiacci's artwork continues to evolve and explore new artistic territories. His research develops through the use of industrial materials and everyday objects, which are manipulated to generate unusual tactile effects or to enhance the physical properties of the materials themselves, such as weight, gravity, and magnetism. This dynamic is manifested in works like Tension with Stone and Magnet and Shavings, which are presented in international exhibitions curated by important galleries and art critics.
In the 1970s, the artist's investigation increasingly focused on the physical being, on the concept of existence and identity. His body became the center of his artistic production. Through works like X-ray of one's own body and performative actions like Replacing oneself with a part of the artist, Eliseo Mattiacci explored the human body as a vehicle to express ideas and concepts related to communication, language, and culture.
In the 1980s, the artist's interest in astronomy became increasingly evident in his works. Using metals like corten, he created large-scale works inspired by the cosmos and the universe. These monumental sculptures, such as Alta tensione astronomica and Carro solare del Montefeltro, are characterized by massive forms and an ideal tension that seeks to lift the material from its weight and give it a sense of lightness. Eliseo Mattiacci's interest in space and the cosmos continues to influence his artistic production in the following years.
His works are characterized by continuous experimentation and a constant exploration of the potential of materials and the surrounding space. Eliseo Mattiacci has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Sculpture in 2008. His artwork has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and retrospectives in prestigious museums and art galleries, both in Italy and abroad. The artist has left a significant mark on the contemporary art scene, thanks to his relentless research, innovative use of materials, and ability to convey complex concepts through sculpture. The figure of Eliseo Mattiacci remains a point of reference for contemporary artists today, and his legacy continues to influence and inspire future generations."