2011 Studio Visit: Virginio Ferrari

Continuing with studio visits of Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago..

Apr 9, 2011: Visited studio of sculptor Virginio Ferrari .

Virginio Ferrari, a big name in the international sculpture scene, with artworks all around the world, in public spaces, museums and private collection. Virginio Ferrari is an Italian sculptor, born in Verona. In the middle of the 1960s, he came to Chicago. From 1966 until 1976, he was the artist in residence, and professor of art at the University of Chicago. He now divides his time between Chicago and Verona. Chicago contains more than thirty of his public sculptures.

Ferrari’s work reflect various stylistic developments ranging from formalist to abstract expressionism, surrealist and minimalist periods. Works in traditional materials, such as bronze, marble and wood to industrial materials including stainless steel, corten steel and aluminum, as well as experimental materials like naugahyde, plastics and found objects.

2011 Studio Visit: Virginio Ferrari

One of the catalogs has an Artist Statement..
In an urban environment with its social problems, the individual can decide either to become involved or to remain indifferent, but he must make that choice again each day since the problems remain. They are part of society and have made the city. Art, architecture and city planning are extremely important and they take shape from this urban reality. I have been completely involved with this reality, its negative/positive dynamics, its empty and full spaces.

Today, in this period of mass production of images, of mass production in general, it is perhaps time to consider how fast things disappear and to become more aware of the process of making art to live with.

Consequently, my sculptures since 1963 have interacted with the environment, often playfully in contrast to it, at other times fully participating in it.

I want to create situations that delight the eye, in the parks, in the streets and in the squares and corners of the city. I want the passerby to be pleasantly surprised to meet up with sculpture, as though it were a natural part of the city landscape. The interaction of sculpture with casual observer can give modern city a human dimension.
– Virginio Ferrari.