Giorgio Griffa was one of the leading figures on the Italian art scene in the painting discourse that developed from Art Informel in the 1960s under the influence of Pop Art and Conceptual Art. In his understanding, painting arises from the interaction between the painter and the work that demands to be painted. Griffa’s work is of great asceticism and unpretentious modesty. His works can be read as fragments that structure the space of the canvas, but also – like music – time. So it is certainly no coincidence that the viewer repeatedly has the impression of looking into a musical score when looking at Griffa’s works. As airy as the painting is the picture support, unprimed linen, which Griffa hangs on the wall without framing.

As early as 1970, Ileana Sonnabend showed Griffa’s work in her galleries in Paris and New York. He took part in the avant-garde shows “Prospekt” in 1969 and ’73 in Düsseldorf, where he had a solo exhibition at the Kunsthalle in 1978. Griffa was represented at the Venice Biennale in 1978 and ’80. His first appearance in Munich was at the Kunstraum in 1975. Griffa has been working with us in Germany since 1981.

A notable exhibition was “Marvels of the Unknown” 2021 at the Lille Métropole Musée d’art Moderne in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. Griffa was honored at the “Luci d’Artista” in Turin in 2023 with the installation “AZZURROGIALLO”, which was shown in the gardens of Piazza Cavour.

education

1962-64
Studied at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti, Turin
1960
Graduated in law (Laurea in Giurisprudenza) from the University of Turin

selected solo exhibitions

2024
Senza Tempo, Massimo de Carlo, Paris
Empatia, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
2022
Luce buio, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
Giorgio Griffa, Centre Pompidou, Paris
2021
Marvels of the Unknown, Lille Métropole Musée d’art Moderne, Villeneuve-d’Ascq
2020
Opere su carta, Palazzo Collicola, Spoleto
2018
A Continuous Becoming, Camden Art Centre, London
2016
Works on paper, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Genève
2013
Fragments 1968-2012, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York City
Golden Ratio, Mies van der Rohe Haus, Berlin
2011
Una serie di segni, MACRO, Rome
2005
Pittura analitica, Neuer Kunstverein, Aschaffenburg

selected group exhibitions

2022
The Milk of Dreams, Biennale di Venezia
2018
Decades, Almine Rech Gallery, London
2016
Giorgio Griffa and contemporaries, Fondazione Giuliani, Rome
1980
Biennale di Venezia
1978
Biennale di Venezia
1974
Prospekt 74, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
1973
Konzeption/Conception, Stadtische Museum Mönchengladbach
1969
Prospekt 69, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf