Luca Pignatelli (born 22 June 1962 in Milan) is an Italian artist known for his work that blends classical and contemporary imagery, creating a "Theatre of Memory." His art draws on a vast archive of historical and modern symbols, featuring Roman and Greek statues, mythological figures, and icons of modernity like WWII planes and skyscrapers. Pignatelli is recognized for his use of unconventional materials such as railway tarpaulins, wood, and metal, which he reworks with cuts and stitching. He has exhibited extensively in Italy and internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and Capodimonte Museum. His work explores the interplay of time, history, and urban spaces.
Biography of the Painter
Luca Pignatelli (born 22 June 1962) is a prominent Italian artist.
Born in Milan in 1962, Luca Pignatelli resides and works in the same city, where he has transformed a former industrial building into a personalized home-studio. His artistic practice revolves around the constant collection, reinterpretation, and transformation of historical and artistic references. He draws from a vast archive of images, both abstract and figurative, from antiquity to modern times, often referred to by critics as a "Theatre of Memory."
Since beginning his career in 1987, Pignatelli has created renowned works featuring Roman and Greek statues, classical depictions of figures like Aphrodite and Diana, mythological heroes, emperors, as well as modern imagery such as New York skyscrapers, Renaissance squares, Alpine landscapes, WWII planes, ocean liners, and steam trains.
His artistic journey is deeply influenced by his fascination with archaeology and mythology. From the heads of ancient statues to classic cars from the 1960s, Pignatelli could have been a filmmaker, but he instead became an artist focused on materiality.
Pignatelli is particularly known for his innovative use of materials, including railway tarpaulins, wood, paper, metal, and rugs. He transforms these found and recovered objects through processes like tearing, cutting, and stitching.
Throughout his career, Pignatelli has gained recognition both in Italy and internationally. His works have been exhibited in prestigious museums, featuring large-scale paintings and site-specific installations. Notable exhibitions include his 2009 solo show "Atlantis" at the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain in Nice and his participation in the Italian Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale. In 2011, his work was displayed at the National Institute for Graphic Art in Rome.
In 2014, the Capodimonte Museum in Naples hosted a solo exhibition, during which Pignatelli donated the large-scale painting "Pompei" to the museum’s contemporary art collection. In 2015, his "Migrants" series was displayed at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence in the Vasari Corridor.
Most recently, after exhibitions featuring John Currin and Glenn Brown, the Bardini Museum in Florence presented "Senza Data," a major exhibition created specifically for the museum’s halls.
Over the years, Pignatelli has earned widespread acclaim, with notable critics such as Donald Kuspit, Achille Bonito Oliva, Sergio Risaliti, Carlo Arturo Quintavalle, and Marina Fokidis writing extensively about his work.
Style, Movement, and Themes
Pignatelli's creative vision is nourished by ancient relics, nature, and the relationship between Time and History. His early works often evoked a sense of impending danger, capturing moments of calm before catastrophe. However, his more recent pieces reflect a broader, more complex engagement with history, characterized by a universal perspective.
For Pignatelli, the City and the History of Art serve as a constant backdrop to human experiences, providing a framework for his artistic exploration, where he draws parallels and introduces alterations.
He is particularly drawn to exploring warehouses, storage facilities, military depots, and large construction sites, places that have always sparked his curiosity and fascination.
Pignatelli is captivated by the unassuming architecture of port cities, with their construction zones and flow of goods. He finds inspiration in the works of architects like Vignola, Loos, and Mies van der Rohe, whom he encountered during his travels across Europe. Additionally, his connection to his native city of Milan remains strong, and he has spent extended periods in New York since 1986, another city that deeply influences his work.
Exhibitions, Museums, and collections
Solo Exhibitions
- Muse. Luca Pignatelli in der Glyptothek, Glyptothek München, Munich (2024);
- Luca Pignatelli, MEF - Museo Ettore Fico, Turin (2022), curated by Luca Beatrice;
- Luca Pignatelli - In un luogo dove gli opposti stanno, Galleria Poggiali, Florence (2019), curated by Sergio Risaliti;
- Luca Pignatelli - Senza Data, Museo Stefano Bardini, Florence (2019), curated by Sergio Risaliti;
- Luca Pignatelli - Recent Works, Senesi Contemporanea, London (2018);
- Luca Pignatelli – Persepoli. Riflessi del residuo, Teatro La Fenice, Venice (2017);
- Luca Pignatelli, Fondazione Giorgio Conti (Palazzo Cucchiari), Carrara (2017);
- Luca Pignatelli – Blue Note/Opere su carta, GAM Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin (2015);
- Luca Pignatelli – Migranti, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence (2015);
- Luca Pignatelli, Museo di Capodimonte, Naples (2014), curated by Achille Bonito Oliva;
- Luca Pignatelli – Icons Unplugged, Istituto Nazionale della Grafica, Rome (2011), curated by Antonella Renzitti;
- Luca Pignatelli – Sculture/Analogie, Galleria Poggiali e Forconi, Florence (2010), curated by Marina Fokidis;
- Luca Pignatelli – Atlantis, MAMAC, Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, Nice (2009), curated by Gilbert Perlein and Hélène Depotte;
- Luca Pignatelli, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples (2008), curated by Achille Bonito Oliva;
- Luca Pignatelli. Paintings, Teatro India, Rome (2007), curated by Achille Bonito Oliva;
- Luca Pignatelli - Between Reverie and Dream, Generous Miracles Gallery, New York (2000), curated by Donald Kuspit;
- Luca Pignatelli, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris (2005);
- Luca Pignatelli, Limn Friedlander Gallery, San Francisco (1999).
Collective Exhibitions
- Scenes of New York City: The Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection, New York Historical Society Museum, New York (2021);
- REVOLUTIONS 1989–2019. L'arte del mondo nuovo 30 anni dopo, Castel Sismondo, Rimini (2019);
- Porti Possibili. Sei artisti per l'accoglienza, Santa Giulia Museum, Brescia (2019);
- Ascoltare bellezza, Biblioteca Classense – Sala del mosaico, Ravenna (2018);
- WORK IN PROGRESS, San Patrignano Collection, La Triennale di Milano, Milan (2018);
- Mediterraneo lo specchio dell’altro, Palazzo Reale, Milan (2018);
- Arte contro la corruzione, Casa Testori Associazione Culturale, Novate Milanese (2017);
- Imago Mundi – Contemporary Artists from Italy, Cini Foundation, Venice and Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2015);
- Fuoco nero. Materia e struttura dopo Burri, Palazzo della Pilotta, Parma (2014);
- Ri-conoscere Michelangelo, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence (2014);
- Coexistence, The Jerusalem Foundation, Museo MAXXI, Rome (2010);
- Collaudi, 53rd International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Italian Pavilion, Venice (2009);
- Opere Scelte, MACRO Museum, Rome (2007);
- Sui Generis, PAC – Contemporary Art Pavilion, Milan (2000);
- Tokyo Travelling Exhibition, International Forum, Tokyo (1997);
- Ultime Generazioni, XII Quadriennale d’Arte di Roma, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome (1996).
Museums and Collections
Pignatelli's works are featured in the following permanent collections:
- Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples, which includes Pompei (2014) in its contemporary art section;
- Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, where Autoritratto come Mitridate (2014–2015) is part of the self-portraits collection;
- CSAC – Centro Studi e Archivi della Comunicazione, University of Parma, which houses Lotta (2014);
- GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin, with seven paper works from the Standard series (2000–2015);
- PART – Palazzi dell’Arte di Rimini, which holds Astratto (2015) and Persepoli (2017) in the Fondazione San Patrignano Collection;
- New-York Historical Society, New York, with two pieces from the New York series in the Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection.
Other Projects
Pignatelli frequently participates in discussions and seminars on art and architecture at universities and institutions. Some of his recent lectures include:
- Galleria M77, Milan, May 2017, on "The idea of a sustainable revolution" with Luca Beatrice and Michele Bonuomo;
- Politecnico di Milano, January 2015, on "Destruction of Construction";
- Naples Academy of Fine Arts, May 2014, on "The sense of classical in contemporary art".
Artists Inspired by His Perspective
Pignatelli’s approach to art, blending ancient iconography with modern sensibilities, has influenced a new generation of artists who are similarly fascinated by history, memory, and the passage of time. His use of industrial materials as canvases has inspired contemporary artists to rethink their own practices, merging the old with the new in unexpected ways.
Bibliography
Luca Pignatelli. Senza Data. Exhibition catalog curated by Sergio Risaliti (Stefano Bardini Museum, Florence, January 25 – March 25, 2019), Florence, Forma Edizioni, 2019.
Luca Pignatelli, Migranti. Exhibition catalog curated by Antonio Natali and Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, 2015.
Arturo Carlo Quintavalle, Fuoco Nero – Materia e struttura attorno e dopo Burri, Palazzo della Pilotta, Parma, Skira, 2014.
Achille Bonito Oliva, Michele Bonuomo, Angela Tecce, Fabrizio Vona, Luca Pignatelli. Exhibition catalog at Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, Arte’m Editore, Naples, 2014.
Luca Beatrice, Marina Fokidis, Maria Antonella Fusco, Antonella Renzitti, Salvatore Veca, Icons Unplugged. Exhibition catalog at Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome, Allemandi Editore, Turin, 2011.
Marina Fokidis, Luca Pignatelli – Sculture/Analogie, Galleria Poggiali e Forconi, Florence, Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori Editore, Milan, 2010.
Achille Bonito Oliva, Luca Pignatelli. Exhibition catalog at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Electa, 2007.
Achille Bonito Oliva, Luca Pignatelli – Paintings, Charta, Milan, 2007.
Donald Kuspit, Luca Pignatelli – Between Reverie and Dream, The Focus Group, New York, 2000.
Luca Pignatelli is a renowned Italian artist who merges classical and modern imagery to create a unique "Theatre of Memory." His work is distinguished by its blend of historical symbols and contemporary elements, often using unconventional materials like railway tarpaulins and metal. With a career spanning over three decades, Pignatelli has exhibited widely in prestigious museums and galleries both in Italy and internationally, including the Venice Biennale and Capodimonte Museum. His art explores the connection between time, history, and urban landscapes, leaving a lasting impact on the contemporary art scene.
Selena Mattei
| ArtMajeur Magazine
