Ricardo Licata was a multifaceted Italian artist, whose creative genius spanned across painting, printmaking, mosaic, sculpture, and design. Born on December 20, 1929, in Turin, Italy, Licata's early life was marked by movements across Europe; he lived briefly in Paris before moving to Rome, where he stayed until 1945. The post-war period saw him settle between Venice and Paris from 1946 onwards, a duality that would come to influence his artistic endeavors. Licata's formal education in the arts began at the artistic high school and continued at the prestigious Accademia delle Belle Arti in Venice, where he studied from 1947 to 1955. His talent and potential were recognized early on when, in 1957, he received a scholarship from the French government. This opportunity allowed him to delve into color engraving and explore new techniques in Paris, working alongside notable artists such as Friedlaender, Hayter, and Goetz. That same year, he became the assistant to Gino Severini at the École d’Art Italienne in Paris, marking the beginning of an impressive career as an educator. Licata's artistic journey began in earnest in 1949 when he started exhibiting with a group of young abstract painters in Venice. His first solo exhibition followed in 1951 in Venice, and from 1952 onwards, he participated in biennales around the world, including those in Venice, Sao Paolo, Tokyo, Paris, Alexandria, as well as the Quadrennial of Rome and the Milan Triennale. His works have been showcased in more than 300 exhibitions in 35 different countries, reflecting his international acclaim. A significant aspect of Licata's work was his deep-seated influence from music. His attendance at musical events, such as those at Teatro la Fenice or the Venice Biennial’s Festival Of Contemporary Music, inspired his unique pictorial-graphic writing that began to take shape in the 1950s. His art often evoked musical notes and scores, and through his complex and original "writing," he sought a new means to depict reality. In the 1950s, Licata was also an active member of the international artistic movement 'Spatialism,' founded by his friend Lucio Fontana. Spatialism was an avant-garde movement that sought to synthesize color, sound, space, and movement into a new type of art that transcended the traditional confines of painting and sculpture. Licata's contributions to the world of glass art were significant. He collaborated with Venini, a renowned Murano glass manufacturer, for a year from 1953 to 1954, bringing a new vision to the murrine work. His collaboration with Venini resulted in several series, such as the "Spugna," "Pettine," "Trifoglio," "Quadrato," and "Ruota" series. His work with glass was exhibited in various European exhibitions, further cementing his reputation as an innovator. As an educator, Licata held prestigious posts, including professor of mosaic at the National School of Paris from 1961 until 1995, professor of visual arts at the UER of the Sorbonne, and professor of engraving at the Académie Goetz in Paris. He also taught at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice and the American School of Architecture in Fontainebleau. Licata's works are part of major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His art has been profoundly influenced by his experiences and his interactions with other great artists of his time, such as Max Ernst, Hans Hartung, and Cesar, leading to joint exhibitions in Paris and Venice. Riccardo Licata's legacy is that of an artist who was constantly evolving, never ceasing to amaze with the richness of his creations and his openness to life and art. He passed away on February 19, 2014, in Venice, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate art enthusiasts and collectors around the world.

Riccardo Licata Quotes and Sales of Works

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