Francesco Arena was born in Torre Santa Susanna, Brindisi, in 1978. He lives and works in Cassano delle Murge, Bari. To create his works Arena starts from History, especially from the political and social events that characterize the recent past. In his works, episodes of the past – often hidden or hushed up – gain new life through the synthetic and metaphorical forms of his sculptures. Francesco Arena's works have been shown in several solo exhibitions, among which: Orizzonte, Art Unlimited, Art Basel (2017), Francesco Arena. Perimetro con quattro opere in uno spazio, TRA Treviso ricerca arte, Treviso (2016); Jannis Kounellis – Francesco Arena, Palazzo Baronale, Novoli, Lecce (2015); Onze mille cent quatre-vingt sept jours, Frac Champagne-Ardenne, Reims (2013); Trittico 57, Museion, Bolzano (2012); Com'è piccola Milano, Peep Hole, Milan (2011); Art Statement, Art Basel (2010); Teste, Fondazione Ermanno Casoli, Fabriano (2010). He has also taken part in several group exhibitions, among which: The Humans, Kunstmuseum St. Gallen (2018); Sculpture Projects Ping Yao, Pingyao (2018); Re-Evolution, MAXXI, Rome (2017); Mario Merz Prize, Fondazione Mario Merz, Turin (2017); La dissidència nostàlgica, La Capella, Barcellona (2016); Par tibi, Roma, nihil, Area archeologica del Palatino, Rome (2016); The 3rd Nanjing International Art Festival, Baijia Lake Museum, Nanjing (2016); Toute première fois, 22 Visconti, Paris (2016); Ennesima, Triennale di Milano (2015); Ritratto dell'artista da giovane, Castello di Rivoli (2014); Vice Versa, Italian Pavilon, 55 Biennale di Venezia (2013); La storia che non ho vissuto. Testimone indiretto, Castello di Rivoli (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); Les sculptures meurent aussi, Kunsthalle Mulhouse (2010); Annisettanta. Il decennio lungo del secolo breve, Triennale di Milano (2007). Publications: Francesco Arena, Six Horizons, Six Roads,Ten Landscape, Milano 2018 Francesco Arena, Posatoi, Milano 2014 Francesco Arena, Works, Cura Books, Roma 2014 Press Review: Download here the selected press review |
