Franco Angeli

Franco Angeli, born Giuseppe Franco Angeli on May 14, 1935, in the San Lorenzo district of Rome, was one of the leading Italian post-war artists. Coming from a family with a strong socialist tradition, Angeli began working at a young age to support his mother after his father's death, experiences that deeply influenced his artistic style. A self-taught painter, he developed an expressive language characterized by the use of materials such as gauze and fabrics that veil the canvas surface, creating an effect of faded memory over time.

Angeli was a prominent member of the School of Piazza del Popolo, alongside Mario Schifano and Tano Festa, sharing a close cultural and political exchange. His art is distinguished by recurring symbols related to political regimes, his communist activism, and the city of Rome, reflecting his political and social commitment. Throughout his career, Angeli moved beyond informal art towards more figurative outcomes, depicting stylized shapes and symbols from his childhood such as obelisks and deserted squares.

He participated in major exhibitions including the Venice Biennale, the Rome Quadriennale, and the São Paulo Biennial. In the 1980s, his artistic production approached figuration while maintaining a strong connection to symbolic and ideological themes. Franco Angeli died in Rome on November 12, 1988, leaving a significant legacy in the Italian contemporary art scene.