le rasoir Printmaking by Valério Adami

Valerio Adami, an Italian painter renowned for his influence in the realm of Pop Art, was born on March 17, 1935, in Bologna. His artistic journey began at a young age, as at ten, in 1945, he embarked on his painting education under the guidance of Felice Carena. His commitment to the craft led him to the prestigious Accademia di Brera in Milan, where he was accepted in 1951. Here, he honed his skills as a draughtsman, studying in the studio of Achille Funi until 1954.

In 1955, Valerio Adami's artistic horizons expanded as he ventured to Paris, a city that would leave a lasting impact on his work. In the vibrant Parisian art scene, he encountered and was deeply influenced by artists like Roberto Matta and Wifredo Lam. This exposure to new ideas and creative energies marked a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution.

The art world first took notice of Adami in 1959 when he held his inaugural solo exhibition in Milan. Early in his career, his works bore the hallmarks of expressionism. However, by 1964, when he presented his second exhibition in Kassel, his style had transformed. Adami's paintings now resonated with the spirit of French cloisonnism, featuring distinct areas of flat, vibrant color, delineated by bold black lines. Unlike artists like Gauguin, Adami's subjects were highly stylized and often presented in fragmented forms, as can be seen in his work "Telescoping Rooms" from 1965.

As the 1970s dawned, Valerio Adami's art took a new turn, delving into politics and addressing a wide array of subjects, including modern European history, literature, philosophy, and mythology. In 1971, he collaborated with his brother Gioncarlo to create the film "Vacances dans le désert." Adami's creative reach extended to literature as well, as he illustrated Helmut Heissenbuttel's poem "Occasional Poem No. 27" in 1974, featuring ten original lithographs at Gallerie Maeght.

In 1975, the esteemed philosopher Jacques Derrida wrote a comprehensive essay titled "+R: Into the Bargain," dedicated to Adami's work. Using an exhibition of Adami's drawings as a backdrop, Derrida explored the function of "the letter and the proper name in painting," delving into areas such as narration, technical reproduction, ideology, the phoneme, the biographeme, and politics.

Valerio Adami's artistic journey was celebrated through four retrospective exhibitions held between 1985 and 1998, taking place in various international locations, including Paris, the Centre Julio-Gonzalez de Valence in Spain, Tel Aviv, and Buenos Aires. In 2010, the Boca Raton Museum of Art hosted a special exhibition dedicated to Adami's paintings and drawings, offering a comprehensive look into the rich tapestry of his artistic career. Valerio Adami's artistic legacy continues to captivate art enthusiasts and scholars, leaving an indelible mark on the world of contemporary art.

• Nationality: ITALY
• Date of birth : 1935
• Artistic domains: Represented by a Gallery,
• Groups: Contemporary Italian Artists Artists presented by a gallery