Elio Marchegiani biography

Elio Marchegiani, born in 1929 in Syracuse, is a renowned Italian painter and sculptor. Since his youth, he has dedicated himself to painting as a self-taught artist. In 1956, with the support of the gallery owner Bruno Giraldi , he intensified his artistic activity. His first solo exhibition was held at the Galleria Giraldi in Livorno in 1958, presenting works influenced by the informal art of the time.
In the following years, Elio Marchegiani continued to exhibit in the same gallery, also organizing exhibitions and cultural events. During this period, he undertook numerous trips between Paris, Milan and Rome, joining the Gruppo 70 in Florence and becoming friends with artists such as Lucio Fontana and Giuseppe Chiari.
The work of Giacomo Balla, Marcel Duchamp and Lucio Fontana has had a significant influence on his work, which ranges from movement research and light to the creation of three-dimensional and environmental works. In the 1970s, Elio Marchegiani developed the Gomme series, works destined to deteriorate over time, and the Grammature di colore , which became a fundamental part of his artistic research. The Color Weights were particularly appreciated, finding space in the Collection of Italian Contemporary Art at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome and in various Italian and foreign museums.
During its career, he participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, where in 1968 he presented the reconstruction of unfinished works by Giacomo Balla. He has received important commissions, such as the Franco-American ones obtained at the FIAC in Paris in 1985-1986, which led to permanent installations in Paris, at the Château de Blois on the Loire, in New York and San Francisco.
His work is has been exhibited in various anthological exhibitions, such as the 1998 one dedicated to him by the Municipality of Livorno at the Fattori Museum, which presented the most significant works of his career. Over the years, he has continued to exhibit in important artistic institutions, such as the Museo del Novecento in Milan, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome and many others.
Elio Marchegiani also had a strong passion for the restoration of works of art. He carried out and supervised the restoration of works by artists such as Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, Agostino Bonalumi and many others. In 2010 he contributed to the establishment of the School of Restoration and Protection of objects of art and contemporary culture of the Municipality of Morro D'Alba in the Marche region. His artistic career is studded with honors and awards. Over the years, he has continued to explore new forms of expression, demonstrating constant attention to the social and cultural context in which art is inserted. Elio Marchegiani is considered one of the most important and influential artists of his generation in Italy. His artistic research continues to evolve, ranging between painting, sculpture and installations, always with the aim of arousing reflections and stimulating critical thinking through his artistic making.