Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Piero Dorazio Biography
Piero Dorazio, born on June 29, 1927, in Rome, Italy, emerged as a pivotal figure in the post-war Italian art scene, championing the cause of abstract art in a country deeply rooted in classical and Renaissance traditions. His journey from an architecture student to a leading abstract painter is a testament to his relentless pursuit of artistic innovation and his commitment to a modernist vision that sought to transcend the provincialism of Italian art.
Dorazio's early life was marked by the turmoil of World War II, which led his family to flee to their homeland province of Abruzzo in 1943. After the war, he briefly worked as a translator for the British Army before enrolling in the School of Architecture at the University of Rome. However, his passion for painting soon took precedence, leading him to abandon his architectural studies. During this period, Dorazio was profoundly influenced by the Futurists, including Gino Severini, Antonio Corpora, Enrico Prampolini, and Giacomo Balla. Yet, he developed an aversion to their right-wing views, aligning instead with left-leaning artists like Renato Guttuso.
In 1947, Dorazio, along with artists such as Pietro Consagra, Achille Perilli, and Giulio Turcato, formulated a manifesto and established Forma 1, a group of abstract artists that sought to reclaim abstraction from Futurism and propose an art form imbued with socialist leanings. The same year, he received a scholarship to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he encountered luminaries of the French art world, including Georges Braque and Henri Matisse.
Upon his return to Rome, Dorazio became a central figure in organizing modern art exhibitions and writing art criticism. In 1950, he co-founded L'Age d'Or, an artists' cooperative gallery dedicated to abstract art. His seminal book, "La Fantasia Dell-Arte Nella Vita Moderna," published in 1955, was the first comprehensive review of modern art in Italy, advocating for abstract art as a means to achieve a "universal civilization."
Dorazio's journey took a significant turn in 1953 when he was invited to participate in the International Summer Seminar at Harvard University. This experience led him to move to New York City, where he befriended key figures of the New York School, including Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and Robert Rauschenberg, as well as critic Clement Greenberg. His time in the United States profoundly influenced his artistic direction, leading him to embrace Color Field painting and lyrical abstraction.
In 1960, Dorazio was invited to establish the graduate Fine Arts Department at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught for nearly a decade. His tenure in the United States was marked by significant exhibitions, including "The Responsive Eye" at MoMA, New York, in 1965, which showcased his contribution to Op Art and Post-Painterly Abstraction.
Throughout his career, Dorazio remained an outspoken and independent character, known for his vibrant use of color and geometric compositions. His work, characterized by thick bands of bright color and crosshatched grids, explored the tension between lyrical sensuality and formalist rigor. Dorazio's paintings, while abstract, did not neglect detail or complexity, embodying what critic Clement Greenberg described as "Post-painterly abstraction."
Dorazio's contributions to the art world were recognized with numerous awards, including the Prix Kandinsky in 1961. He continued to work and exhibit until 2004, leaving behind a legacy that significantly influenced the trajectory of Italian modernism. Piero Dorazio passed away on May 17, 2005, in Perugia, Umbria, Italy, but his work continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide, celebrated for its pioneering spirit and profound impact on abstract art.
Piero Dorazio Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, through which you will be
informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
You can send us pictures of the work: