Rodolfo Aricò

Rodolfo Aricò was a prominent Italian painter, set designer, and educator born in Milan on June 3, 1930. He attended the Brera Art High School from 1946 to 1950 and later graduated in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in the 1950s, a background that deeply influenced his artistic research. Aricò began exhibiting his works in 1957, quickly gaining recognition in the Italian art scene. In 1962, he participated in the exhibition "New Perspectives of Italian Painting" in Bologna and in 1964 presented the "Triptych of Existence" at the 32nd Venice Biennale, a major international event.
In the following years, Aricò explored the objectual aspects of art, holding a solo exhibition in 1967 at the L'Attico Gallery in Rome, accompanied by a catalog with text by Giulio Carlo Argan. He was also invited to the 34th Venice Biennale in 1968, where he created an environmental space with large-scale works. From the 1970s onward, his work focused on reinterpreting art history and architectural archetypes, employing innovative techniques such as spray painting to achieve effects of apparent monochromy. The titles of his works from this period reflect a strong interest in humanistic tradition, referencing historical figures and themes like Paolo Uccello.
Aricò took part in numerous important exhibitions, including the traveling show "1960/1985. Aspects of Italian Art" across several European cities in 1986 and the 42nd Venice Biennale the same year. Rodolfo Aricò is remembered as an artist who successfully combined architectural training with profound pictorial research, leaving a significant mark on contemporary Italian art.