Walter Valentini

Name: ARTMAJEUR
Brand: ARTMAJEUR
Rating: 4.9 (12745 reviews)

Italy •

Artist (Printmaking) •

Born unknown date •

Walter Valentini, born in Pergola, Pesaro, is an Italian artist celebrated for his mastery of engraving, painting, and sculpture. After living in Rome from 1947 to 1948, he moved to Milan in 1949, where he studied under prominent figures such as Max Huber, Albe Steiner, and Luigi Veronesi. In 1950, Valentini relocated to Urbino, where he attended the Institute of Fine Arts (Scuola del Libro) and discovered the art of engraving, deeply influenced by the city's Renaissance culture.

After completing his studies in 1955, Valentini returned to Milan, embarking on a career as a graphic designer while dedicating himself increasingly to painting. His artistic universe is characterized by geometric precision and metaphysical echoes reminiscent of Giorgio De Chirico’s work. In the 1970s, Valentini’s style evolved, with his works becoming defined by the interplay of geometry, white tones, and large-scale installations such as Stanze del tempo and Muro del Tempo. These pieces form part of his series dedicated to idealized cities (Città del Sole, Città Ideale) and later series like Le misure, il cielo.

Throughout his career, Valentini gained international acclaim, participating in numerous exhibitions and receiving prestigious awards. In 1979, he was invited to the University of Massachusetts in Boston for an exhibition of Italian artists. He won the first prize at the International Biennial of Ibiza and Listowel in 1982 and the Grand Prix at the International Biennial of Graphics in Krakow in 1984. His works have been exhibited in renowned museums and galleries across the globe, from the U.S. to Japan and Europe.

Notable exhibitions include his solo shows at the XVIII International Biennial of Graphic Design in Ljubljana (1989), major works in the U.S., and installations like Lo Spazio, il Tempo at the Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, Colorado (1991). Valentini’s work has been featured in numerous Italian and international museums, including a major retrospective at Palazzo Magnani in Reggio Emilia in 2001 and his participation in the XLVII Biennale di Venezia in 1997.

Walter Valentini’s legacy also extends into teaching, having served as Director of the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan from 1983 to 1985, where he taught the art of etching. Over his career, Valentini’s artworks have explored themes of time, space, and memory, consistently reflecting his meticulous approach to form and structure. His achievements were further celebrated with awards such as the XXVIII International Graphic Prize "Do Forni" in Venice in 2013, marking him as a significant figure in contemporary Italian art.