Mario Schifano

Mario Schifano was an influential Italian painter and collagist known for his contributions to the Postmodern art movement.

Biography of Mario Schifano

Mario Schifano was born in Homs, Libya, in 1934. He gained initial prominence through the exhibition "Five Roman painters: Angeli, Festa, Lo Savio, Schifano, and Uncini," curated by Pierre Restany in 1960 at the Galleria La Salita in Rome. Schifano captured critics' attention with his monochrome paintings that resembled screens displaying numbers, letters, road signs, and prominent logos such as Esso and Coca-Cola.

In 1962, he took his first trip to the United States, where he found inspiration from artists like Jim Dine and Franz Kline. During this time, he formed relationships with figures such as Frank O'Hara, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Gregory Corso.

Following solo exhibitions in Rome, Paris, and Milan, he traveled back to the United States. He gained acclaim and received numerous awards, including the Premio Lissone (Lissone 1961), the Fiorino Award, and La Nuova Figurazione (Florence, 1963).

He took part in international group exhibitions, such as those at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh in 1964, and the Biennial exhibitions in San Marino and São Paulo, Brazil, in 1965.

In 1970, he traveled to America for the final time with Tonino Guerra, Carlo Ponti's screenwriter, to scout filming locations for "Laboratorio Umano," a film that ultimately never materialized.

In 1976, he participated in the exhibition "Europa/America, l’astrazione determinata 1960-76" at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bologna. In 1978, he showcased his series "Al mare" and "Quadri Equestri" at the Venice Biennale.

The artist died in 1998. Schifano's work received significant recognition, and in 2023, the Magazzino Italian Art museum in Cold Spring, New York, presented an exhibition titled "Mario Schifano: The Rise of the '60s," which showcased 80 of his works produced between the 1960s and the 1970s. Schifano also collaborated with poet Frank O'Hara on the exhibition "Words & Drawings."

Mario Schifano's Art Style

Schifano's art style was characterized by his use of mixed media, incorporating enamel paint, wax crayons, gouache, collage, and photographs, often combining these materials within a single work. Many of his pieces were initially painted in enamel on paper and later mounted on canvas panels. Schifano also explored the realms of filmmaking and rock music during his career.

His art frequently referenced popular culture and art history, incorporating iconic brand logos and kitsch motifs reminiscent of Pop Art, such as lily pads and horses. Adapting continuously to contemporary trends, Schifano engaged in various media, seamlessly transitioning between film, music, and photography, often combining multiple disciplines simultaneously. In the 1960s, he undertook a comprehensive series of political artworks that critically examined the Vietnam War through films and photograms.