Carla Accardi

Carla Accardi was one of the most important Italian abstract painters of the postwar period. Born in Trapani on October 9, 1924, she moved to Rome in 1946, becoming a central figure in the Italian art scene. Accardi was among the founders of the Forma 1 group, a collective that promoted abstraction in Italy during the 1940s and 1950s, and also collaborated with the Movimento Arte Concreta (MAC). Her artistic research was characterized by essential geometric forms, pseudo-calligraphic signs, and a reduced palette, often in black and white, exploring the relationship between figure and background. In the 1960s, her painting became richer in color and optical effects, with the introduction of innovative supports such as transparent plastic, which enhanced the luminous nature of her works.
Accardi participated in several editions of the Venice Biennale (1964, 1976, 1978) and was among the first Italian women to gain international recognition in the field of abstract art. Her career was also marked by strong civic and feminist engagement: she was among the founders of the Rivolta Femminile publishing house and promoted the visibility of women artists in the art world. Carla Accardi’s works are present in major public and private collections, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. Her artistic legacy continues to influence generations of contemporary artists.