Giulio Turcato

Born in Mantua in 1912, he has lived in Venice since 1920, where he attended the Gymnasium and the School of Art, and subsequently the Art School and the Free School of the Nude.

In 1937 he settled in Milan, where he earned his living by creating architectural perspectives and mosaic designs for the architect Muzio. In 1939 he held his first solo exhibition in Milan. In 1942-1943 he made his debut at the XXIII Venice Biennale.

In 1943 he went to Rome, where he exhibited at the IV Quadrennial. He joined the anti-fascist Resistance and participated in the Liberation, settling permanently in Rome. His artistic work is closely linked to his social and political commitment.

In 1945 he was one of the founders of “Art Club”.

A period of European education began, with trips to Paris to learn about the works of post-impressionist and abstract artists.

In 1947 he signed the “Forma 1” manifesto and participated in the first exhibition of the Fronte Nuovo delle Arti. In 1948 he was invited to the XXIV Venice Biennale; two years later, at the 1950 Venice Biennale, his painting Mine won the First Acquisition Prize.

In 1952, together with Afro, Birolli, Corpora, Moreni, Morlotti, Santomaso and Vedova, he joined the “Gruppo degli Otto”, promoted by Lionello Venturi, and as a member of the group he exhibited at the XXVI Venice Biennale.

In 1954 he participated again in the Biennale, presented by Emilio Villa.

He will return there in 1956, 1958 (Personal Room and winner of the National Prize), 1966 (Personal Room), 1968, 1972 (Personal Room), 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1993.

In 1956 he went to China, where he exhibited in Beijing (Beijing) and Shanghai: his visual experiences during this trip triggered a series of historical works, from the Deserts of the Tartars to the Chinese Mosques em>.

In 1957 he participated in the exhibition Painting in Post-War Italy, organized in New York by Lionello Venturi.

In 1958 he was invited to the Italian selection for the “Guggenheim International Award” in New York.

In 1959 he was present at the second Documenta in Kassel. In 1964 he married the Roman director Vana Caruso. The following year he participated in the Rome Quadrennial and won the Presidency of the Council prize.

In 1973, while the Festival dei Due Mondi was underway, the city of Spoleto dedicated a first retrospective exhibition to the artist’s work. His second major retrospective was held in 1974 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, with more than 300 works, from 1945 to 1974.

In 1984, in Venice, he participated in the Biennale Teatro with the sets for the performance Modules in Viola – Homage to Kandinsky (music by Luciano Berio, choreography by Min Tanaka, directed by Vana Caruso).

In 1986 the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome organized a major retrospective of his work.

In 1989, Sperone Gallery in New York held a solo exhibition of his work entitled Blu Oltre. Other important exhibitions of his work were held in 1990, including the major retrospective at the Ca’ Pesaro Museum of Modern Art in Venice.

His work was exhibited for the last time at the Venice Biennale in 1993, in the Italian Opera section.

In 1995, the year of his death, Turcato’s works were exhibited in the exhibition La Metamorfosi Italiana 1943-1968, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.