Velasco VITALI (1960) - ITALY

Dallol – Iron & sheet metal – L 135 x W 53 x H26 cm - 2010 - Unique piece. Gallery certificate will be given to the buyer. Velasco Vitali (1960, Italy) works and live in Bellano He began his activity as a self-taught artist at the end of the 1970s, working with graphics, painting and drawing. In 1983 he won the San Fedele Prize and the following year he was invited by Giovanni Testori to take part in the exhibition Artists and Writers at the Rotonda della Besana, Milan. In 1986 he had his first solo exhibition, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, at the Compagnia del Disegno, Milan; in 1999 he took part in the 13th Quadriennale in Rome. In 2004, Electa published Velasco 20, a monograph on his first twenty years of work with a contribution by Giulio Giorello, and the following year his works entered the MACRO collection. In 2011, he was invited to the Italian Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale, where he exhibited the sculpture Veidrodis, presented the installation Branco in Brussels and published Apriti cielo, a volume collecting watercolours on the theme of the holy. His most recent exhibitions include FUGA, curated by Mark Gisbourne and Giacinto di Pietrantonio, Galleria Mazzoli, Modena; Veduta, curated by Danilo Eccher, M77 Gallery, Milan; Branco , Reggia di Venaria, Turin; Sbarco, PART Museum, Rimini; Goldwatch, Assab One Gallery, Milan; Spazi Capaci, curated by Alessandro De Lisi, Capaci Community, Palermo. For 15 years now Velasco has had a predilection for sculptures of dogs, molding and assembling them with a great variety of materials.The artist refrains from realistic description, he puts forward neither interpretations nor judgments and he follows no storyline; he limits himself to staging a fascinating and alienating visual creation, to encourage contemplation, generating new sense and meaning. Vitali’s animals are almost always life-size, realistic although created in a very freeway. Their positions convey a certain tension through voluntary deformations and at times almost pathetic or stupefied attitudes. Each dog is different, has a clean soul and carries a strange feeling of plastic solitude, whatever his posture. This loneliness persists even as the artist gathers a complete pack in a confined space. You never see a dog running or in an aggressive attitude; these beings are resigned, stunned, and disoriented. Exhibitions – Collection – In situ Giovanni Falcone Foundation in Palerm, 2023 XIII edizione di Taobuk Festival Taormina, Sicilia, 2023 Circolo Bellano, 2021 Castel Ivano, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, 2020 Assab One gallery in Milan, 2020 Teatro Franco Parenti, Sala Testori, Milano, 2016 Piazza Duomo di Milano, 2014 Fonderia Artistica Battaglia, Milano, 2013 Fondazione Corrente, Milano, 2013 Gallery LKFF, Brussels, 2013 Fondazione Pomodoro, Milano, 2011 Palazzo Reale e piazza Duca D'Aosta, Milano, 2010 CRT Teatro dell’Arte, Milano 2006 Gellery Jackson Heigts, New York, 2009 Gallery el tigre celeste, Argentina M77 Gallery ,Milano, Italy, 2019 Awards Premio Acacia Prize: Velasco Vitali was awarded the Premio Acacia Prize in 1982. Premio Caterina Percoto: In 1986, he received the Premio Caterina Percoto. Premio Cairo Communication per l'Arte: Vitali was honored with the Premio Cairo Communication per l'Arte in 1999. Premio Marche 2000: In the year 2000, he received the Premio Marche 2000. Premio New York: Vitali was awarded the Premio New York in 2003. Premio Crivelli Europa: In 2011, he received the Premio Crivelli Europa.