Agostino Bonalumi

Agostino Bonalumi (Vimercate, July 10, 1935 – Desio, September 18, 2013) was one of the most significant figures in Italian abstract art of the 20th century. After studying technical and mechanical drawing, Bonalumi approached painting as a self-taught artist, quickly becoming involved in the vibrant Milanese art scene. Through his association with Enrico Baj’s studio, he met and collaborated with key figures such as Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, and Enrico Castellani, sharing ideas and artistic experimentation.
Bonalumi was a leading contributor to the magazine Azimuth, which advocated for a complete reset of previous artistic culture and a new beginning aligned with social progress. His research focused on monochrome canvases, often white, which he transformed into three-dimensional surfaces by inserting wooden and metal shapes behind the canvas. These works, known as “extroflexions,” create shifting effects of light and shadow as the light source changes, turning the two-dimensional surface into a vibrant, perceptible space.
Bonalumi’s works have been exhibited in major international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, where he was awarded a personal room in 1970. His production, ranging from painting to graphic art and stage design, is recognized as fundamental to the history of contemporary Italian art. Bonalumi was elected corresponding academic at the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca in 2000.