Marco Gastini was born in Turin in 1938. After taking his diploma at the fine arts academy of Turin in 1960, he went beyond the stagnation of late informal art with a form of painting made up of traces and minimal gestures, approaching the territory of contemporary Minimal Art, and later Analytic Painting. In 1966 he began teaching at the artistic secondary school, a position he was to hold until 1985. In 1967-68 he produced spray paintings featuring continuous vital flows across the neutral surface of the canvas. In the early ’seventies he reached another, more radical turning point, using materials apparently marking a move away from painting, but actually expressing a new way of understanding it. The issue of the close relationship between paint and space, both mental and physical, became a constant presence in his idiom. This was the time of his first lead and antimony casts on walls, introduced in 1970. The notions of space, energy, tension, involvement, and attraction and repulsion in relation to their context have always been primary and essential features of his work.
After a long period of colourless work, in white, black, and graffiti on clear surfaces, use of colour powerfully burst out in his work, along with the most disparate materials, chosen partly for their colours: from woods to stones, from parchment to iron, and from chalk to terracotta.
His works flow off the surface of the canvas, paper or other substrate to take over the walls and spaces around them, creating a physical impact.
In the mid-nineties Gastini’s artistic vocabulary was transformed yet again, creating works in which signs are made objective, with ribbons and iron rods, always in a close plastic relationship with the paint on the substrates. At the same time, the artist’s work increasingly related to the world outside; he created imposing installations on the façades of buildings, in city squares and under loggias, invading architectural and urban space and dialoguing with the history and atmosphere of the place.
Invited repeatedly to the Biennale di Venezia (in 1976 and 1982), the artist has works on exhibit in numerous private collections and museums all over the world.
The artist passed away in Turin in 2018.
2015
Duetti, Galleria Nicola Pedana, Caserta, Italy
2014
ACCART – Antonella Cattani Contemporary Art, Bolzano, Italy
Polifonie, Museo Pecci, Spazio Borgogno, Milan, Italy
2013
Carte, Galleria T.A.C., Perugia, Italy
2012
Contrappunti. Con una finestra sullo studio, MAMbo – Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Monadi e numeri, Galleria Progettoarte-elm, Milan, Italy
Nel volo… sospeso, Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Salone Napoleonico, Milan, Italy
2011
Attimi sospesi, Walter Storms Galerie, Monaco di Baviera
Miraggi e riflessi e Terre e altre storie, Palazzo Risolo e Spazio Cactus, Specchia, Italy
Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, Bologna, Italy
… settanta, Otto Gallery, Bologna, Italy
2008
Sospensione, Galleria Giorgio Persano, Turin, Italy
Il canto delle pietre, installazione permanente, Sentè d’Art, Bossolasco, Cuneo, Italy
Nel volo… attorno, Galleria dello Scudo, Verona, Italy
2007
Immagini, Forme e Natura delle Alpi, Palazzo Sertoli, Galleria Credito Valtellinese, Sondrio, Italy
La pittura… addosso, 2000 & Novecento Galleria d’Arte, Reggio Emilia, Italy
1 2 3, NMB studio, Turin, Italy
2006
Il respiro e l’aria, Otto Gallery, Bologna, Italy
2005
Spirale Arte, Milan, Italy
Galleria Bruno, Cosenza, Italy
Galleria Carte d’arte, Catania, Italy
Chiesa di S. Giacomo, Treville, Italy
CAMeC, La Spezia, Italy
Kunsthalle, Goeppingen, Germany
Galleria Dell’Oca, Rome, Italy
2004
Pinacoteca, Varallo Pombia, Italy
Walter Storms galerie, Monaco
Linea d’ombra Galleria Disegno, Mantova, Italy
2003
Galleria Volume!, Rome, Italy
2002
Lorenzelli Arte, Milan, Italy
2001
Galleria civica d’arte moderna e contemporanea, Turin, Italy
Galleria Plurima, Udine, Italy
Già Via Nuova per l’arte contemporanea, Florence, Italy
Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau, Monaco
2000
Galerie Walter Storms, Monaco
Galleria Martano, Turin, Italy
Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Los Angeles, California
1999
Sportswear Company, Milan, Italy
Galleria Artipici Carteriani, Modena, Italy
Galleria Il Cenacolo, Trento, Italy
1998
Tempo Reale, Brunnenburg, Merano, Italy
Orangerie im Schlopark Belvedere, Weimar, Germany
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
1997
Siena, opere nella città, Italy
1996
Galerie Krief, Parigi, France
Studio G7, Bologna, Italy
Galleria Maura Cocchi, Parma, Italy
Piece Unique, Parigi, France
1995
Studio La Città, Verona, Italy
Galerie Walter Storms, Monaco
Villa Valdberta, Feldafing, Germany
1994
Galleria Martano, Turin, Italy
Fondo Rivetti per l’Arte, Turin, Italy
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Galleria Disegno, Mantova, Italy
1993
Galerie Hans Barlach, Köln, Germany
Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Trento, Italy
Galerie Hans Barlach, Amburgo, Germany
Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt, Germany
Kunstverein St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Germany
Galerie Appel und Fertsch, Frankfurt, Germany
1992
Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, Italy
Villa delle Rose, Bologna, Italy
1991
Studio La Città, Verona, Italy
GalerieWalter Storms, Monaco
Galleria Il Cenacolo,Trento, Italy
1990
Galleria Il Triangolo Nero, Alessandria, Italy
Galerie Brandstetter & Wyss, Zurigo, Switzerland
Studio G7, Bologna, Italy
Galleria Franca Mancini, Pesaro, Italy
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
1989
Gallerie Krista Mikkola, Helsinki, Finland
Galerie Hans Barlach, Amburgo, Germany
Galleria Martano, Torino, Italy
Barbara Kornblatt Gallery, Washington, USA
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Museo de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
1988
Galleria Mèta, Bolzano, Italy
Galleria Martano, Artforum, Amburgo, Germany
Installazione, Città di San Giminiano, Italy
Piazza Pecori e Villa della Rocca, Italy
Galleria Oddi Baglioni, Rome, Italy
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Galerie Hans Barlach, Köln, Germany
Galleria Studio G7, Bologna, Italy
1987
Galerie Susanna Kulli, St. Gallen., Switzerland
Galleria Martano / Forum, Zurigo, Switzerland
Studio Carlo Grossetti, Milano, Italy
Galleria Arte & Altro, Milano, Italy
Galleria Rossana Ferri, Modena, Italy
Castel Burio, Burio di Costigliole d’Asti, Italy
1986
Galerie Appel und Fertsch, Francoforte, Germany
Gallerie Krista Mikkola, Helsinki, Finland
Galerie Walter Storms, Monaco
Galerie Wassermann, Monaco
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
1985
Olsson Gallery, Stoccolma, Sweden
Galleria Martano, Torino, Italy
Galerie Nordenhake, Malmö, Sweden
1984
Galerie Susanna Kulli, St. Gallen, Switzerland
PAC, Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
Galleria Plurima, Udine, Italy
Studio Dossi, Bergamo, Italy
Galerie Krohn, Badenweiler, Germany
Studio Carlo Grossetti, Milan, Italy
1983
Olsson Gallery, Stoccolma, Sweden
Galleria L’Isola, Rome, Italy
Galleria Civica, Modena, Italy
Galleria Plurima, Udine, Italy
Galleria Ariete Grafica, Milan, Italy
Galerie D+C Mueller-Roth, Stuttgart, Germany
1982
Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, Bologna, Italy
Studio G7, Bologna,Italy
Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Monaco
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Biennale Internazionale di Arti Visive, Venezia, Italy
Galleria Mèta, Bolzano, Italy
1981
Galleria Taide, Salerno, Italy
Galleria Martano, Turin, Italy
Galerie Appel und Fertsch, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Karmeliter Kloster, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Salone Villa Romana, Firenze, Italy
Galleria Vigato, Alessandria, Italy
1980
Centre d’Art Contemporain, Genève, Switzerland
Galerie Walter Storms, Villigen, Switzerland
Gallerie Annemarie Verna, Zürich, Switzerland
1979
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Galerie Baronian, Bruxelles, Belgium
Studio G7, Bologna, Italy
1978
Galerie Walter Storms, Monaco
Galleria Il Banco, Brescia, Italy
Galleria La Tartaruga, Rome, Italy
Galerie Walter Storms, Monaco
Multi Art Points, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Studio Carlo Grossetti, Milan, Italy
1977
Galleria Christian Stein, Turin, Italy
Galerie D+C Mueller-Roth, Stuttgart, Germany
Galleria Forma, Genova, Italy
John Weber Gallery, New York, USA
Galleria E Tre, Rome, Italy
Galleria Spagnoli, Firenze, Italy
1976
Galleria Sperone, Rome, Italy
Galleria Primo Piano, Rome, Italy
Galerie Baronian, Bruxelles, Belgium
Galerie Annemarie Verna, Zurigo, Switzerland
Salone Annunciata, Milan, Italy
Biennale Internazionale di Arti Visive, Venezia, Italy
1975
Salone Annunciata, Milan, Italy
Cirrus Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Galleria Peccolo, Livorno, Italy
1974
Galleria Il Banco, Brescia, Italy
Galerie m, Bochum, Germany
Galleria Il Sole, Bolzano, Italy
Galerie D+C Mueller-Roth, Stuttgart, Germany
Galerie Swart, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Galleria Ferrari, Verona, Italy
Galleria Bottello, Turin, Italy
Galleria Nova, Prato, Italy
1973
Galleria Primo Piano, Rome, Italy
Galerie Argès, Bruxelles, Belgium
Galerie Annemarie Verna, Zurigo, Switzerland
1972
Galleria Beniamino, Sanremno, Italy
Galleria Fiori, Firenze, Italy
Les Halles, Bruges, Blegium
Salone Annunciata, Milan, Italy
1971
Galleria LP 220, Turin, Italy
Salone Annunciata, Milan, Italy
Galerie Wspolczesna, Varsavia, Poland
Galleria LP 220, Calice Ligure, Italy
Galerie Argès, Bruxelles, Belgium
1970
Galleria Gap, Rome, Italy
1969
Galleria Piattelli, Rome, Italy
Salone Annunciata, Milan, Italy
1968
Galleria Pozzi, Novara, Italy
Galleria Il Punto, Torino, Italy
1967
Galleria della Steccata, Parma, Italy
Galleria Il Girasole, Roma, Italy
1964
Galleria del Falò, Alba, Italy
2011
Gran Torino. The crossroads of the Italian Contemporary Art Scene
Frost Art Museum, Miami, Florida
Imaginæ. 1960 – 1990, Fondo Giov-Anna Piras, Asti, Italy
Via del Sale, Arte Contemporanea dal Roero alla Langa fino al mare, VIII edizione, Enoteca regionale del Roereo, Canale, Italy
Pieve di S. Sebastiano, Bergolo, Italy
Chiesa di S. Rocco, Levice, Italy
Castello degli Scarampi, Prunetto, Italy
Ex Filanda, Monesiglio, Italy
Chiesa di S. Antonio, Camerana, Italy
Chiostro di S.ta Caterina, Finalborgo, Italy
Castello degli Scarampi, Prunetto, Italy
Collisioni. Un gruppo di artisti tra scultura e architettura, Galleria 2000 & Novecento and Chiesa dei SS. Carlo e Agata Reggio Emilia, Italy
Distillati d’Arte Contemporanea. 25 artisti per il Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo, Sala degli Alambicchi dell’Aurum, Italy
Una collezione che attraversa il tempo. 1958 – 2011, Galleria Grossetti Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
2011
Gran Torino: the crossroads of the Italian Contemporary Art scene, Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
2010
Il grande gioco. Forme d’arte in Italia. 1947 – 1989,
Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Lissone 1947 – 1958,
Rotonda di via Besana, Milano 1959 – 1972,
Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Bergamo 1973 – 1989, Italy
Esposizione alla Rotonda della Besana, Milan, Italy
Avanguardia anni ’60-’70, P420 Arte Contemporanea e Libri, Bologna, Italy
Gallery Collection vol. 1, Galleria 41 Artecontemporanea, Concept room, Turin, Italy
… umso mehr, Kunsthalle, Göppingen, Germany
Scultura internazionale a Racconigi 2010. Presente ed esperienza del passato, Castello di Racconigi, Italy
Contemporaneamente, MarcoRossi Artecontemporanea, Pietrasanta, Italy
Dall’originale al moltiplicato, Galleria Martano, Turin, Italy
La terra del fuoco. Ceramica d’autore, IX edizione, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Avigliana, Italy
Arte Povera, Galleria Cart, Monza, Italy
Sotto una luce diversa…, Galleria del Ponte, Turin, Italy
2009
Hot Spots. Rio de Janeiro / Milano – Torino / Los Angeles, 1956 – 1969, Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurigo, Switzerland
Cromofobie. Percorsi del bianco e del nero nell’arte italiana contemporanea, Ex Aurum, Pescara, Italy
Play & Pause, Galleria Martano, Turin, Italy
Le superfici opache della pittura analitica, Fondazione Zappettini, Chiavari, Italy
Spazio Libro d’Artista. 120 bookworks della collezione Spazio Libro d’Artista. Una panoramica degli ultimi 40 anni, Italy
Italian works on paper. Part I, Maurizio Pellegrin, Macy Art Gallery, New York, USA
La collezione, Accademia Albertina delle Belle Arti, Turin, Italy
Astrazioni, Eventinove artecontemporanea, Borgomanero, Italy
I paesaggi e la natura dell’arte, ARCOS Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Sannio, Benevento, Italy
Pensare pittura. Una linea internazionale di ricerca negli anni Settanta, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Villa Croce, Genova, Italy
Cento artisti per L’Aquila, Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna, Pescara, Italy
Arte Povera bis Minimal – Einblicke in die Sammlung Lafrenz, Museum Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany
Learn to read art: a history of Printed Matter, Karlsruhe / MoMA PS1, New York, USA
Premio Marina di Ravenna 2009. Rassegna di Pittura. 53ª edizione, Museo d’Arte della Città, Ravenna, Italy
Ausgewählte Werke von Künstlern der Galerie, Walter Storms Galerie, Monaco
Luci d’artista, Torino, Galleria Subalpina, Italy
Twenty-six gasoline stations e altri libri d’artista, Museo Regionale, Messina, Italy
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