Mario Merz Prize

Edition 2

Art

Francesco Arena

Francesco Arena (Torre Santa Susanna, Brindisi, 1978) lives and works in Cassano delle Murge, Bari.

To create his works Francesco Arena starts from History, in particular from the political and social facts that characterize the recent past. Episods – too many times hidden or hushed up – in his works gain a new life thanks to the synthetic and metaphorical forms of his sculptures.

Francesco Arena’s works have been shown in solo exhibitions, among whichAutumn Lines, Sprovieri Gallery, London, (2016); sette, uno, quattro, Galleria Raffaella Cortese, Milan (2015); 3 Ludwig reflections and 1 horizon, Nogueras Blanchard, Madrid (2014); Onze mille cent quatre-vingt sept jours, Frac Champagne-Ardenne, Reims (2013); Trittico 57, Museion, Bolzano (2012); Orizzonte con riduzione di Mare, Monitor, Roma (2012); Com’è piccola Milano, Peep Hole, Milano (2011); Art Statement, Art Basel; Teste, Fondazione Ermanno Casoli, Fabriano (2010).

He has also taken part in several group exhibitions, among which: Ennesima, Triennale di Milano, Milan (2015); Nero su bianco, American Academy, Rome 2015; Pass. Kunst in dorpen, Mullem, Huise, Wannegem, Lede 2015; TUTTTOVERO, Castello di Rivoli – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rivoli 2015; Sculptures Also Die, Centre for Contemporary Culture Strozzina, Palazzo Strozzi, Firenze 2015; Art Parcourse, Art Basel 45, Basel 2014; Ritratto dell’artista da giovane, Castello di Rivoli – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rivoli (2014); Liberdade em movimento, , Fundação Iberê Camargo, Porto Alegre, Brasil 2014; Vice Versa, Italian Pavilon, 55 Biennale di Venezia, Venice (2013); La storia che non ho vissuto, Castello di Rivoli, – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rivoli (2012); The revolution must be made little by little |part 2: The Squaring of the Circle, Galeria Raquel Arnaud, San Paolo, Brasile 2012; Sotto la Strada la Spiaggia, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2012); Il bel paese dell’arte, GAMEC, Bergamo (2011); Pleure qui peu rit qui veut – Premio Furla, Palazzo Pepoli, Bologna (2011); Temporaneo – contemporary art in the evolving city, organized by Nomas Foundation and IMF Foundation, Rome (2010); Practicing Memory – In the time of an all – engaging present, Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella (2010).