MARIO NIGRO (1917-1992)
Title: Table No. 4 - Composition B, 1949-1983

Technique: Lithograph
Dimensions: 50x35 cm
Signature: Signed, dated (1949/1983), and numbered (Edition 21/100) in pencil on the front

Notes:
Originally part of the portfolio: 'Mario Nigro. 10 graphic works from 1948 to 1955,' with a presentation text by Luciano Caramel and 10 color lithographs by Mario Nigro.
Published by Centro Rs Como.

Biography:

Mario Nigro (Pistoia, 1917 – Livorno, 1992) moved first to Arezzo and then to Livorno, where his early artistic talents began to emerge, even though his compositions were initially marked by a lingering traditionalism. In 1945, he co-founded the Gruppo Artistico Moderno (G.A.M.) in Livorno, alongside Voltolino Fontani and other local painters. At first, his focus was on the great Italian masters like Sironi and De Chirico, but over time, his interest shifted towards abstraction. In 1949, he joined the Movimento Arte Concreta (MAC) led by Gillo Dorfles. Nigro’s artistic activity wasn’t limited to his artworks; he also produced theoretical writings, with his first major work, "Spazio totale," published in 1954. In 1958, he decided to move abroad, but two years later, he was involved in a serious car accident that left him permanently disabled. In 1964, he was invited to the Venice Biennale, and in 1968, he was given a solo room at the event, a presence he maintained in several subsequent editions. His work became increasingly original, bridging optical art and, from the mid-1960s, minimalism. His artistic output also intersected with architecture, and some of his 1950s pieces were even referred to as "skyscrapers." Nigro was celebrated in numerous international art exhibitions, notably the 1971 show "Arte concreta. Il costruttivismo italiano" in Munster. He passed away in Livorno in 1992, and in 1993, the Venice Biennale honored him with a retrospective that sparked renewed interest in his work.