Professor Maria Elena Versari is curating the exhibition “Archipenko and the Italian Avant-garde,” which opens May 4 at the Estorick Collection in London. The exhibition aims to introduce the public to an alternative history of modernism by retracing the many moments of exchange and confrontation between the Ukrainian-born sculptor Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964) and the masters of modern Italian art. The exhibition will be on view through September 4.
The exhibition explores the role of the artist in the creation of a modernist Italian tradition – both within and outside of the Futurist movement – as well as the impact that Archipenko’s work had on the development of Italian sculpture in the 20th century. Focusing on these two themes, the show also casts new light on the history of Archipenko’s collectors and on the role played by his drawings in his critical reception.