Gianni Piacentino was born in Coazze, in the Province of Turin, in 1945. In 1965 he enrolled in the University of Turin where he studied philosophy until 1966. Piacentino first exhibited with Arte Povera artists at Galleria Sperone (Turin) in 1966 and then in Milan the following year. While involved with the Arte Povera movement in its infancy and cited as one of its...

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  Biography of Gianni Piacentino

  Gianni Piacentino was born in Coazze, in the Province of Turin, in 1945. In 1965 he enrolled in the University of Turin where he studied philosophy until 1966. Piacentino first exhibited with Arte Povera artists at Galleria Sperone (Turin) in 1966 and then in Milan the following year. While involved with the Arte Povera movement in its infancy and cited as one of its founders, he abandoned it early on. During his studies, he worked for a year as a disc jockey and worked part-time at a paint factory that produced special paints from 1967-1968. Following his break from the Arte Povera group in 1968, he purchased a 1930s Indian motorcycle that deepened a lifelong fascination, as well as an intimate knowledge of the vehicle. This captivation heavily influenced his work as an artist and eventually led to him participating in numerous motorcycle races.
  It was during this brief period, 1965 to 1969, that Piacentino created his minimal sculptures as well as a series of acrylics on canvas ; in 1969, the artist began his "Vehicles" and "Wings" series which would not be associated with the Arte Povera movement.
  In the 70s, his work will oscillate between the Pop art and the Minimalism. Piacentino's work continued to evolve. In June 1977, Piacentino participated in Documenta 6 in Kassel, Germany.
  Piacentino lived and worked in New York City from 1980 to 1981. In an interview with Isabella Puliafito in 1985, the artist says : « Art has taught me to become a craftsman. »
   In 1993, Piacentino participated in XLV Venice Biennale. His most recent solo exhibition in the United State (Gianni Piacentino: Works 1965-2013) took place in 2015 at Michael Werner Gallery (New York). In November 2015, Fondazione Prada hosted an extensive solo show of Piacentino's work.
  Piacentino's work has been also displayed in the Fondazione Giuliani in Rome, Metropolitan Art Society in Beirut, Michael Werner Gallery in London, Veneklasen/Werner, Berlin, in the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (2009), MoMA New York (1997), Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid (1990), the Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst in Bremen (1981), the Nationalgalerie in Berlin (1978), the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels (1972), in the University Museum in Sydney (1971) or the Museum am Ostwall in Dortmund (1971).
  

  

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