Fabio de Sanctis

Background

De Sanctis was born in Rome, Italy, on February 7, 1931.

Education

Fabio De Sanctis graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Rome in 1957.

Career

In 1957 de Sanctis started his own architecture practice, and received numerous commissions creating for his clients both the exteriors and interior decorations.

In the early 1960s, he began to design furniture as he felt unsatisfied with and rather bored by "contemporary furniture" design. In 1963, Fabio de Sanctis, together with Ugo Sterpini, established Officina 11, which was in charge of the design of 27 critically acclaimed pieces of furniture. These works were internationally exhibited. In May 1965, Andre Breton, a French writer, and poet, invited Officina 11 to exhibit at the International Surrealist Exhibition, "L’Ecart Absolu" in Paris. It was the final official exhibition of the Surrealist movement. The art world met the artworks of the Officina 11 with interest and at the first exhibition, at the Galleria Il Centro in Naples, followed.

During this time, de Sanctis joined the Surrealists and made their meetings more frequent. His sculpture and furniture, often eccentric but always original and amusing, was full of wit and an unexpected mixture of elements.

In the mid-1960s, Fabio de Sanctis took part in several major American exhibitions, including "Fantasy Furniture" (Museum of Contemporary Craft, New York, 1966) and "The Object Transformed" (Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1966). He exhibited in Bologna, Milan, Cologne and, when in 1968 the surrealist group organized the exhibition "Le Prince du Plaisir" in Brno, Prague, and Bratislava, the artist was invited to present his artworks as well.

In 1973 de Sanctis took part in the "Volterra 73" exhibition, which was held in outdoor spaces. He also created sculptures using plastic and metal, they were displayed during the 1974 Biennale at the Palazzo della Permanente in Milan. The same year he exhibited in Brussels, and in 1976 he was invited to the XXXVIII Venice Biennale. In 1978 he participated in "Surrealism Unlimited 1968-78" at the Camden Arts Center in London and also exhibited at the Museum Bochum. His first solo exhibition took place in Paris in 1979 at the gallery Le Triskelè.

In the 1980s, de Sanctis participated in exhibitions in Mexico City, Cannes, Volterra. The elements of this production were figurative and were often taken from the sculptural heritage of the past. Later he was a member of the following exhibitions: "Dans la lumière du Surréalisme" in Bari in 1983; "Changer la vue - André Breton and the Revolution Surréaliste du regard" in 1986; personal exhibition at the Galerie de l'Hótel de Ville in 1987; "The Surrealists" exhibition in Milan in 1989; "André Breton, Beauté convulsive" in Paris in 1991 etc.

Throughout his career, de Sanctis has produced a number of site-specific installations, sculptures, and furniture design. During the 2000s, he continued to exhibit his work internationally. Fabio De Sanctis currently lives and works in Rome.

Achievements

• Fabio de Sanctis is a distinguished contemporary painter. He has been the subject of numerous monographs, but his work is quite difficult to find. He was the winner of the First sculpture prize at the 10th Barcelona International Biennial.

Works

More photos

• design

  • Modular

  • Nautilus

  • Poltrona a mano armata (in collaboration with Ugo Sterpini)

  • Antropomorfo 1

  • Cielo, Mare, Terra

  • Una Mano Lava L'Altra

  • Tabouret

  • Leonardo Cabinet (in collaboration with Ugo Sterpini)

  • Air Mail Special

• painting

  • Untitled

• sculpture

  • Untitled

  • Bottiglia Palmata

  • I Gemelli Cantori

  • Untitled

  • Animale totemico pacifico

  • Sgabello

  • Il Riposo del Designer

  • Untitled

  • Les charmes de Kadali

  • L’arrêt prévu

  • Modello di poltrona II (prototype)

  • Poltrona a mano armata (in collab. w/Ugo Sterpini)

  • Ritorno al futuro

References

• Fabio De Sanctis sculptures
• Fabio De Sanctis