Luciano Fabro (born 1936 in Turin; died 2007 in Milan) is renowned for his radical reevaluation of sculptural form and his rigorous approach to spatial context, material, and meaning. A landmark figure of post-war Italian art, he was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous texts on art theory. Fabro's work has been the subject of one-person exhibitions at institutions around the world, such as Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels (1988); Fundació Miró, Barcelona (1990); Kunstmuseum, Luzern (1990-1991); the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1992); Centre Pompidou, Paris (1996-1997); Tate Gallery, London (1997); Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2007); and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid (2014). Between 1972 and 1997, Fabro participated in eight editions of the Venice Biennale as well as three editions of documenta in Kassel. Fabro was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Sikkens Prize, awarded from Rotterdam (1987), the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize from Rome (1993); and a Coutts Contemporary Art Award from Zurich (1994).
Luciano Fabro
Eos (L’Aurora), 1997
Nero Marquina marble, Fior di Pesco marble, onyx, and gold leaf
overall: 15 1/2 x 106 3/4 x 30 1/2 in. (39.4 x 271.1 x 77.5 cm)
Photo: Marco Anelli; Courtesy Magazzino Italian Art
Installation view, Luciano Fabro, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, November 27, 2014 - April 12, 2015. Courtesy Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid.
Luciano Fabro
Panorama (Gioiello), 1982
copper, cardboard, metal frame
39 3/8 x 39 3/8 x 7 7/8 in. (100 x 100 x 20 cm)
Luciano Fabro
Italia d'oro, 1968-1971
bronze, gold, steel, cable, clips
29 1/2 x 17 5/7 in. (75 x 45 cm)
Courtesy Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid
Luciano Fabro
Sisifo, 1994
engraved marble, flour
installation dimensions variable
Courtesy Galerie Micheline Szwajcer, Antwerp
Installation view of Ovaie (1988), Ogni ordine è contemporaneo d’ogni altro ordine. Quattro modi di esaminare la facciata del SS. Redentore a Venezia (Palladio) (1972-73), and Il giorno mi pesa sulla notte IV (1994-2000) in Luciano Fabro, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, November 27, 2014 – April 12, 2015. Courtesy Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid.
Installation view, Arte Povera, Magazzino Italian Art, Cold Spring, New York, ongoing exhibition. Photo: Marco Anelli. Courtesy Magazzino Italian Art.
Luciano Fabro
Struttura ortogonale assoggettata ai quattro vertici a tensione, 1964
brass tubing
41 x 89 3/8 in. (104 x 227 cm)
Courtesy Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid
Luciano Fabro
Computer - Gallina, 1988-1990
steel and painted aluminum
86 5/8 x 124 x 2 in. (220 x 315 x 5 cm) (approx.)
Courtesy Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid
Luciano Fabro
L'Infinito, 1989
steel cable and marble
17 3/4 x 315 x 236 1/4 in. (45 x 800 x 600 cm)
Photo: Paolo Pellion; Courtesy Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rivoli-Torino
Luciano Fabro
Il Nido, 1994
Carrara marble
two column fragments, each: 33 1/2 in. (85 cm) diameter
eggs, each: 9 4/5 in. (25 cm) diameter
Photo: Agostino Osio; Courtesy Galleria Christian Stein, Milan
Luciano Fabro
Il giorno mi pesa sulla notte I, 1994
Portuguese pink marble, red Levanto marble, gold, lead, glass
39 1/2 x 101 x 14 7/8 in. (100.3 x 256.5 x 37.8 cm)
