FAUSTO MELOTTI

June 8th, 1901 – June 22nd, 1986
Born in Rovereto, Italy

Italian artist who worked with a wide array of materials, including wood, wire, plaster and ceramics. He is known for creating Surrealist sculptures thought to have been influenced by fellow Italians Georgio de Chirico and Lucio Fontana, who he befriended at the Academia de Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. The repeating motifs and rhythmic structures in his works reflect his strong interest in musical composition. His playful wire mobiles and cagelike sculptures have been compared, respectively, to the work of Alexander Calder and Alberto Giacometti. The1986 Venice Biennale opened with a major exhibition of his work, earning him a posthumous Leone d’Oro.