Giuseppe Uncini

Giuseppe Uncini, born in Fabriano in 1929 and passed away in Trevi in 2008, was one of the most important Italian sculptors and painters of the second half of the 20th century, renowned especially for his works in iron and concrete. After attending the Art Institute of Urbino, he moved to Rome in 1953, where he began to gain recognition in the national art scene. His participation in the Rome Quadriennale starting from 1955 marked the beginning of a career rich in exhibitions and accolades. In 1958, he created the famous 'Primocementoarmato', a slab of raw concrete reinforced with wire mesh and iron, which inaugurated his experimentation with industrial materials and a strongly constructive and geometric artistic language. In the following years, Uncini deepened the relationship between material and space, giving rise to the 'ferrocementi' and 'strutturaespazio' series. In 1962, he founded the Gruppo Uno together with Gastone Biggi, Nicola Carrino, Nato Frascà, Achille Pace, and Pasquale Santoro, aiming to emphasize the social role of art. His production stands out for the innovative use of concrete, iron, and metal mesh, which reveal the supporting structure of the works, highlighting the architectural and constructive principle. Uncini exhibited in major Italian and international galleries, participated in six editions of the Rome Quadriennale and the Venice Biennale. Among the awards received, the Spoleto Prize in 1962 and the Feltrinelli Prize for Sculpture from the Accademia dei Lincei in 1988 are particularly notable. His art, characterized by a balance between opposing forces and a continuous material research, remains a fundamental reference point for contemporary Italian sculpture.