Trapani 1924 – Rome 2014

Carla Accardi is one of the most original figures in the Italian art scene of the postwar period.

She moved to Palermo to study at the Fine Arts Academy, completing it in 1947. As of 1946 we find her in Rome, where she founds the Marxism-inspired “Forma 1 group” together with Attardi, Consagra, Dorazio, Guerrini, Maugeri, Perilli, Sanfilippo – whom she marries in 1949 – and Turcato.

Her research continues in the direction of signic automatism until the early Sixties, a period marked by her presence at the Venice Biennale of 1964; she is also to participate in the Biennale in 1988, this time with a dedicated room.

In 1965 she abandons temperas in favour of coloured and fluorescent paints, which she applies on transparent plastic supports Sicofoil, thus involving the space beyond the painting; her approach is to be influential to the representatives of Arte Povera.

In the Seventies she returns to geometric schemes, which are reiterated on large canvases called Lenzuoli or sheets. These experiences will be explored further in a series of installations before she returns to a more traditional dimension in the Eighties.

In 1996 she is appointed member of the Academy of Brera and in 1997 she is part of the Commission for the Venice Biennial in the role of councillor.

© ACCARDI CARLA, by SIAE 2020