Turi Simeti

Turi Simeti, born in Alcamo (Trapani) on August 5, 1929 and passed away in Milan on March 16, 2021, was one of the most important Italian artists of the 20th century, renowned for his contributions to concrete, kinetic, and abstract art. After studying Law in Palermo, he moved to Rome in 1958, where he met pivotal figures such as Alberto Burri, Tano Festa, and Mario Schifano. His encounter with Burri marked a turning point: Simeti abandoned traditional painting and began experimenting with three-dimensional forms, especially the raised ellipse, which became the hallmark of his artistic language. In 1965, he moved to Milan, where he developed a rigorous research on visual perception, monochrome, and geometric structure. Between 1966 and 1969, he was Artist in Residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New York, deepening his artistic vision and producing numerous works. His exhibition activity took him to galleries and museums across Italy, Europe, the United States, and South America, with solo shows in Milan, Basel, Düsseldorf, Rio de Janeiro, and other cities. In the 1980s and 1990s, Simeti received international recognition, including the International Contemporary Art Prize of Monte Carlo in 1988. His work, characterized by a continuous exploration of visual and material possibilities, left a lasting mark on contemporary art, confirming him as a master of form and space manipulation.