Emilio Greco biography

Emilio Greco, born in Catania on October 11, 1913, was a highly talented and recognized Italian sculptor, writer, and illustrator. From childhood, he showed an innate passion for art, filling notebooks with drawings despite his father's initial disapproval, who hoped for a more profitable profession for his son. His determination and creativity drove him to pursue his dream despite adversities. At the age of thirteen, due to his father's illness, he had to leave school and start working as an apprentice stonemason at a local construction company specializing in the restoration and creation of civic monuments. This experience proved fundamental for his artistic development, as it allowed him to quickly learn the art of sculpting marble and modeling clay. Despite difficulties, he managed to make significant progress in his artistic career.
In 1934 Emilio Greco obtained a certificate from the Academy of Palermo and subsequently served in the Royal Army, participating in several colonial battles. During the Second World War, in Rome, he passively followed the events.
In 1947, Emilio lived and worked at Villa Massimo alongside other renowned artists, which helped increase his fame and prestige. The following year, he obtained a teaching position at the Liceo di via Ripetta, an important recognition for his career.
Emilio Greco's immense popularity surged in 1956 with the creation of the monument to Pinocchio and the Fairy in Collodi. His works are characterized by a poetic touch, particularly the cycle of the Great Bathers and portraits of young women. Other significant works include the Monument to Pope John XXIII in St. Peter's and the Cathedral Doors of Orvieto, completed in 1970.
Emilio Greco traveled extensively, exhibiting his works in important international exhibitions and accumulating honors and awards in Italy and abroad. His art is admired and acclaimed in Paris, Tokyo, New York, Lisbon, and even Australia. His talent and mastery in sculpture earned him a prominent place in the artistic landscape of the 20th century.
Besides his career as a sculptor, Emilio Greco devoted himself to teaching. Between 1955 and 1967, he was a sculpture professor at the Academy of Naples and later returned to teach in Rome. His influence also extended abroad, with a chair at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and work in Salzburg at the invitation of Oskar Kokoschka.
Emilio Greco was an artist constantly evolving, experimenting with new techniques and styles throughout his career. His deep dedication to art was reflected in his creative philosophy, as shown by a verse he wrote himself: "PERHAPS IT WAS NOT IN VAIN TO LOVE EACH OTHER IF YOUR IMAGE WILL ETERNALLY LIVE IN BRONZE...". He was a self-critical artist, often dissatisfied with his works, but proud of the creative process and the pleasure it brought.
Emilio Greco died in Rome on April 5, 1995, leaving behind a lasting artistic legacy. His masterpieces are exhibited in important museums and collections around the world, including the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, and the Emilio Greco Museum in Orvieto, inaugurated in 1991. His art continues to inspire and fascinate contemporary art lovers, confirming him as one of the greatest sculptors of the twentieth century.