Afro Basaldella

Afro Libio Basaldella, born in Udine on March 4, 1912, was one of the most important Italian painters of the post-World War II period. Coming from an artistic family, with a painter father and uncles who were goldsmiths and sculptors, Afro began his artistic training alongside his brothers Dino and Mirko. At just sixteen, he exhibited for the first time, participating in significant exhibitions such as the 1st Exhibition of the Friulian Avant-garde School and the 20th Exhibition of the Opera Bevilacqua La Masa in Venice. Thanks to a scholarship from the Marangoni Foundation in Udine, he moved to Rome where he met key artists of the Roman School like Scipione, Mario Mafai, and Corrado Cagli.

After graduating in painting in Venice in 1931, Afro took part in major art events including the Rome Quadriennale in 1935 and the Venice Biennale in 1936, gaining wide recognition. His painting, initially influenced by neocubism, evolved towards informal abstraction, characterized by a linear and colorful synthesis. Among his most important works is the mural "The Garden of Hope" created for the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, symbolizing hope and rebirth after the devastations of World War II.

Afro Basaldella exhibited in renowned international museums such as the MoMA and MIT in New York, participating in major collective exhibitions. In 1956, he won the prize for best Italian painter at the Venice Biennale, consolidating his international fame. He died in Zurich in 1976, leaving a fundamental artistic legacy for 20th-century Italian art.

His works are highly sought after in auctions today, with significant valuations, and are held in important public and private collections. His mixed media technique on canvas and ability to blend European and American influences make him a key figure in the study of Italian abstract art.