Ugo Attardi

A Journey from Palermo to Global Acclaim in Art

Ugo Attardi, born in 1923 in Sori, Genoa, to a Sicilian family, led a life rich with cultural shifts and artistic evolution. His father, a trade unionist with strong roots in Santo Stefano Quisquina, faced forced relocation by the fascist regime, prompting the family's move to Palermo. There, young Attardi discovered his passion for art, often spending time painting with his uncle, a skilled portraitist and landscapist, when he wasn't at school.

Ugo Attardi - Lungotevere

Despite enrolling in art school and beginning studies in architecture and fine arts in Palermo, the war interrupted his formal education. In 1945, Attardi relocated to Rome, finding companionship and inspiration among fellow artists like Pietro Consagra and Renato Guttuso. This period marked his initial foray into painting, setting the stage for a vibrant artistic career. By 1947, amidst the postwar cultural reawakening, he joined the Forma 1 group, signing a manifesto alongside notable contemporaries such as Carla Accardi and Antonio Sanfilippo. Although his participation was brief, it was a formative experience; Attardi's work began in abstract and neo-cubist styles before he found his true calling in expressionism, influenced by the likes of George Grosz and Francis Bacon.

The 1950s saw Attardi's rise as a prominent figure in the Italian art scene, exhibiting his work at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Rome and aligning himself with the Italian Communist Party, reflecting his deep political commitments through his art. His first invitation to the Venice Biennale came in 1952, a recognition that would repeat itself, highlighting his evolving style and growing acclaim. International exhibitions soon followed, with shows in Prague, Moscow, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and New York.

In the early 1960s, Attardi was instrumental in founding the Pros and Cons group, reflecting a period of intense creativity that included stays in Spain where he re-evaluated themes central to his later sculptural work. The transition to sculpture marked a pivotal shift in his career, beginning with his homage to Che Guevara in 1967. His sculptural oeuvre expanded rapidly with significant works like "L'arrivo di Pizarro," culminating in large-scale projects that blended historical narrative with monumental form.

Throughout the 1970s to the 1990s, Attardi's work garnered further prestige and visibility. Notable moments included a major retrospective at the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, his return to the Venice Biennale, and his definitive consecration at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His engagement with public art continued, notably with his bronze bas-relief "Per la Libertà" and the ambitious "Il Vascello della Rivoluzione" at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome.

His later years remained productive, with personal and group exhibitions around the world, from Nice and Milan to New York, where his works continued to provoke thought and admiration. In 1997, his sculpture "Ulisse" was installed in Battery Park City, New York, symbolizing a life of exploration and endurance. His legacy was cemented in 2006 when one of his abstract works was included in the permanent collection of GNAM in Rome, and a comprehensive retrospective in 2012 at the Convento del Carmine in Marsala further celebrated his lifelong contributions to art.

Ugo Attardi's journey from a child in Palermo to an acclaimed artist recognized internationally demonstrates a profound dedication to exploring and expressing complex themes through various artistic mediums. His works remain a testament to a life richly lived through art, marking him as a significant figure in the pantheon of 20th-century artists.