Farewell to Carlo Frittelli, the gallery owner who grew contemporary art in Florence

Gallery owner Carlo Frittelli, a prominent figure in Florentine art and culture, died yesterday in Florence at the age of 91. Not only a gallery owner but also an artist and collector, Frittelli was for decades a point of reference for the Italian contemporary scene, promoting emerging talent and helping to consolidate Florence as a center of artistic experimentation. In particular, his gallery, Frittelli Arte Contemporanea, had become an indispensable point of reference for certain currents, starting with visual poetry.

A grandson of the 19th-century painter Raffaello Sorbi, Frittelli was born on January 2, 1935, and had lived intensely the post-World War II season, when the city was going through a strong cultural and artistic vitality. His passion and commitment led him to create exhibition spaces capable of combining tradition and innovation, always with an eye to new trends and younger generations of artists.

After the experience at the Spaziotempo Art Center, located in the central Piazza Peruzzi and the site of numerous exhibitions, Carlo Frittelli, together with his son Simone, decided to create a new exhibition space, giving continuity to the gallery’s activity and at the same time renewing its vocation. On April 22, 2006, the new headquarters of Frittelli Arte Contemporanea was inaugurated at Via Val di Marina 15, in the northwest area of Florence. The space, completely renovated by architect Adolfo Natalini, covers about 2,000 square meters and includes rooms for temporary exhibitions, as well as a 350-square-meter permanent area called “Le Stanze,” where works by artists with whom the gallery has collaborated since its opening are collected.

Until the last days of his life, Frittelli maintained an ambitious vision for Florence, dreaming of the creation of a museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art with a high architectural profile. At the same time, he was working on a major exhibition dedicated to Vinicio Berti, his friend of more than 30 years and “master for all of us,” as Frittelli liked to call him. Although aware of the rapid passage of time, the gallery owner never stopped planning and actively engaged in the city’s cultural life.

“With the passing of Carlo Frittelli, Florence loses a refined protagonist of the city’s cultural life,” says Sara Funaro, mayor of Florence. “Carlo was able to transform his passion for art into a mission of research and dissemination, making his gallery an international point of reference for contemporary and second-century art. Frittelli was a committed intellectual who made himself available to the city. His space in Novoli is a garrison of living culture, a place of confrontation where entire generations of enthusiasts have been able to form themselves.”

“His generosity in collaborating with city institutions and his vision of a Florence projected into the contemporary,” added Councillor for Culture Giovanni Bettarini, “leave a precious legacy that goes far beyond the walls of his gallery. We will remember him for his passion for artistic research. He was a valuable adviser who always offered critical insights and fundamental support for exhibitions.”

Farewell to Carlo Frittelli, the gallery owner who grew contemporary art in Florence

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.