Turi Simeti

Minimalist in approach, Simeti's work evolved from the flat collages of the late 1950s and early 1960s to the spatial complexity of his distinctive three-dimensional extroflexed canvases.

Biography of Turi Simeti

Turi Simeti, born in 1929 in Alcamo, Sicily, moved to Rome in 1958 where he was significantly influenced by Alberto Burri. He became a key figure in the dynamic art scenes of Rome and Milan, making his debut in the 1965 "ZERO Avantgarde" exhibition held at Lucio Fontana's atelier.

Throughout his career, Simeti was closely associated with the post-war Art Informel and ZERO movements, collaborating with prominent Italian artists such as Lucio Fontana, Piero Manzoni, Enrico Castellani, and Agostino Bonalumi.

Simeti's work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice. His art is part of major collections worldwide, including MAM in Rio de Janeiro, Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bolzano, Galleria Civica in Turin, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome, Museo del Novecento in Milan, and Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in Ludwigshafen.

The artist passed away in 2021.

Turi Simeti's Art Style

Turi Simeti's art is minimalist in conception, evolving from flat collages in the late 1950s and early 1960s to his signature three-dimensional extroflexed canvases. His works are characterized by dynamic patterns of ovals that create a rhythmic movement across the monochromatic canvas surfaces. 

The physicality of the work necessitates a personal viewing experience, allowing one to fully appreciate the interplay of light and shadow, the subtle nuances of the colored surface, and the dynamic interaction between shape and color.