Riccardo Licata

Born in Turin in 1929

Biography

Riccardo Licata was born in Turin on December 20, 1929. His works are present in the modern art museums of Belluno, Chicago, Florence, Milan, Mulhouse, New York, Paris, Reggio Emilia, Stuttgart, Warsaw, Venice, Vienna. Between 1947 and 1955, he studied at the artistic high school and then at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Venice. In the 50s, together with Lucio Fontana, he was a very active member of the international artistic movement 'Spatialism'. In 1957, he obtained a scholarship from the French government to experiment, in Paris, color engraving and new techniques, in collaboration with Friedlaender, Hayter and Goetz. He was called the same year to be assistant to Gino Severini at the Italian School of Art in Paris. In 1960, he created with Max Ernst, Hundertwasser, Tancredi, Lam, Mondino, Matta, Scanavino the anti-trial movement. In 1961, he was appointed professor of mosaic at the National School of Paris where he taught until 1995. Prestigious posts followed one another: in 1969, he was professor of visual arts at the UER of the Sorbonne, then professor of engraving at the Académie Goetz in Paris and, from 1972, held the same position at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice and at the American School of Architecture in Fontainebleau. His friendships with Max Ernst, Hans Hartung, Hayter, Goetz, Friedlander, Adami, Arman, Cesar, led to the organization of joint exhibitions in Paris and Venice.

With this vast artistic experience where he was, in turn, painter, engraver, mosaicist, sculptor, scenographer, he began in 1949 to exhibit in Venice and Florence with the group of Giovani Pittori Astratti. His first personal exhibition was held in Venice in 1951. Three hundred others, still personal, would follow in thirty-five different countries. From 1952, he exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Sao Paolo Biennials in Brazil, Tokyo, Paris, Lubiana, Alexandria in Egypt, the Rome Quadrennials, the Milan Triennials, as well as in the main Parisian fairs. In the 90s, in the heart of Paris (14 ° arrondissement), he created a large fresco that you can still see in Rue Gassandi. In 2002, he received the international prize for culture in Milan. In 2009, two important exhibitions were held for its eightieth anniversary: one at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice and the other at the Palazzo della Promotrice in Turin. In 2010, it was at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg that an exhibition was dedicated to him “Spazialismi: Riccardo licata e la pittura a Venezia dal dopoguerra ad oggi”. He lived in Paris and Venice. He died on February 18, 2014 in Venice.

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Main exhibitions

More than 300 in 35 different countries. From 1952, Riccardo Licata exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Biennale in Brazil, Tokyo, Paris, Ljubljana, Alexandria in Egypt and at the Rome Quadrennials, the Milan Triennials, all as in the main Parisian salons.

1993: Museum of Modern Art in Venice CA'Pesaro, retrospective.
1998: Mantua Museum, Ducal Palace, exhibition “Dall Amor Pugente”.
2000: Senate Museum, Milan State Archives, Licata Exhibition, Bi and Tri Dimensional Art.
2001: Ringo Castle, monumental polychrome wood sculptures.
2002: Circolo degli Artisti, Turin, “Licata-Arazzi”, monumental tapestries.
2005: National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo ”Rome. ”Riccardo Licata, poesia, musica“
2009: Palazzo Venezia, Rome “Riccardo Licata e le stagioni dello spazialismo”.
2010: Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Exhibition “Spazialismi: Riccardo licata e la pittura a Venezia dal dopoguerra ad oggi”.
2011: National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana ”Riccardo Licata Continuando“
2011: National Museum of Archeology & Museum of fine arts. La Valletta (Malta) ”Riccardo Licata Mediterranean soul“
2013: National Museum of Ravenna ”Riccardo and the masters of the mosaic“
2014: Museo Civico di Palazzo Te “Riccardo Licata e la pitura a Venezia dal dopoguerra“