Fortunato Depero: unpublished drawings on display at Gonnelli's in Florence

The exhibition Fortunato Depero - Futurist Projects offers the public a rare opportunity to enter the creative universe of one of the major protagonists of Italian Futurism. The exhibition, to be held from May 7 to 19, 2025 at the Libreria Antiquaria, Casa d’A ste e Casa d’Arte Gonnelli in Florence, Italy, will feature twenty-eight previously unpublished drawings made between 1919 and 1928 by Depero. The works come from a private collection and document the inexhaustible energy and multifaceted nature of the artist, a man capable of spanning illustration, advertising, set design and writing.

“We are pleased to once again renew all our attention to the enhancement and promotion of these drawings and this exhibition, which is part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Libreria Antiquaria Gonnelli (founded in 1875),” says Marco Manetti, Director Libreria Antiquaria, Casa d’Aste e Casa d’Arte Gonnelli.

Fortunato Depero (Fondo, 1892 - Rovereto, 1960) is known for his efforts to explore and renewtwentieth-century art, contributing to the formation of the Futurist movement with an innovative and highly recognizable visual language. The drawings on display, made in pencil on paper, are related to advertising projects for Campari and Beer, as well as theater sets, tapestries, pillows, vests, vests and magazine covers. In each of these works, his ability to approach art as a ground for experimentation is manifested, where the sign becomes the foundation of a creative gesture that evolves into project, idea and vision. The originality of the drawings lies in the fact that they tell the story of a Depero who, while belonging to an avant-garde current such as Futurism, does not limit himself to a single field of expression, but crosses and merges multiple languages and media. The works on display demonstrate an extraordinary visual coherence, with a use of color and form that not only responded to the communicative needs of the time, but anticipated the artistic and cultural trends that would dominate the next century. This exhibition is thus a reflection on the relevance of his thought. His visual insights, his ability to think in terms of modernity and innovation, make his work particularly relevant even in the contemporary context. Depero’s art, in fact, has not ceased to speak to the present, revealing an iconic power that continues to exert undisputed appeal.

Gonnelli’s exhibition tradition, which dates back to 1913, when the gallery organized one of the first exhibitions of Italian Futurism, bears witness to an ongoing commitment to promoting Depero’s works. Over the years, Gonnelli has hosted several exhibitions dedicated to this artist, including an exhibition of drawings, watercolors, oils, tempera paintings, and tapestries from the 1920s and 1950s, staged in the late 1970s. Today, in its new location on Via Fra’ Giovanni Angelico, the Libreria Antiquaria, Casa d’Aste e Casa d’Arte Gonnelli continues to promote a dialogue between the past and the present, while also pushing its gaze toward contemporary art trends.

The exhibition catalog, edited by Maurizio Scudiero, an expert on Futurism and curator of the General Catalog of Depero’s works, is a key part of the exhibition project. The publication is part of the Quaderni Gonnelli series, which has been delving into Italian and international graphic art of the 19th and 20th centuries for more than 40 years. The catalog offers further insight into Depero’s work, revealing the nuances and meanings of drawings that, although the product of a well-defined historical period, are projected toward the innovation of the art of the future.

The opening of the exhibition will take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 6 p.m., with a vernissage featuring Prof. Maurizio Scudiero, who will give a short lecture on the exhibition and the significance of Depero’s works. This event is also an opportunity to reflect on the link between art, innovation and modernity. The Fortunato Depero - Futurist Projects exhibition is part of a cultural and artistic context in Florence that continues to enhance historical memory while embracing new artistic expressions. The Libreria Antiquaria Gonnelli, with its commitment to researching and promoting historical and contemporary heritage, continues to be a point of reference for art lovers and those who wish to explore the roots of the artistic trends that marked the 20th century.

For more information, you can visit www.gonnelli.it.

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Fortunato Depero: unpublished drawings on display at Gonnelli's in Florence

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