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 gallerist Bruno Giraldi, he intensified his artistic activity. His first solo exhibition was held at the Galleria Giraldi in Livorno in 1958, presenting artworks 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 Group 70 in Florence and forming friendships with artists such as Lucio Fontana and Giuseppe Chiari.
The artwork of Giacomo Balla, Marcel Duchamp and Lucio Fontana had a significant influence on his work, which ranges from research on movement and light to the creation of three-dimensional and environmental artworks. In the '70s, Elio Marchegiani developed the series of Rubbers, artworks intended to deteriorate over time, and the Color Grammages, which have become a fundamental part of his artistic research. The Color Grammages 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 his career, he participated in numerous national and international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, where in 1968 he presented the reconstruction of unfinished artworks by Giacomo Balla. He 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 Castle of Blois on the Loire, in New York, and San Francisco.
His work has been exhibited in several retrospective exhibitions, such as the one in 1998 dedicated to him by the Municipality of Livorno at the Fattori Museum, which presented the most significant artworks of his career. Over the years, he has continued to exhibit in important artistic institutions, such as the Museum of the Twentieth Century 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 artworks. He performed and curated 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 Contemporary Art and Cultural Objects of the Municipality of Morro D'Alba in the Marche region.
His artistic career is filled with recognitions and awards. Over the years, he has continued to explore new expressive forms, demonstrating a constant attention to the social and cultural context in which artwork 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 from painting, sculpture, and installations, always with the goal of provoking reflection and stimulating critical thinking through his artistic practice.