DEPERO. Graphic Art Between Italy & United States

The Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington present the exhibition "DEPERO. Graphic Art Between Italy & United States," curated by Maurizio Scudiero, a leading expert on Futurism and Director of the Depero National Archive, and produced by Davide Sandrini – StArt Ltd. This exhibition explores the work of Fortunato Depero, one of the most imaginative figures of 20th century Italian art. Through a vibrant selection of drawings, collages, and printed material, the exhibition traces Depero’s evolution as a graphic designer, illustrator, and visual communicator who pushed the boundaries of visual expression in modern art.

This exhibition highlights Futurism, Italy’s early 20th-century avant-garde movement celebrating speed, modernity, and bold visual language. Unlike his peers, Fortunato Depero bridged high and popular culture, transforming advertising, typography, and publishing into experimental art that anticipated modern branding.

Depero also forged strong ties with the United States, viewing New York as the ultimate Futurist city. In the late 1920s, he established a “Center of Futuristic Creation,” collaborated widely, and sought to bring Futurism to America, a vision he pursued even after WWII, leaving traces in U.S. art and architecture, including the Chrysler Building’s style.

Dates may be subject to change. Please check your email on the day of your appointment for any last-minute changes.

LOCATION : Embassy of Italy - 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

REGISTRATION AND PHOTO ID REQUIRED

Please note that dates are subject to change. Check your email prior to coming to the event on the day you are registered.

PLEASE NOTE: RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH EVENTBRITE.COM. NO PHONE OR EMAIL RSVP AVAILABLE.

All registered guests must provide their full legal name for accurate event records. Duplicate or incomplete registrations will be rejected.

Please

Biography of Maurizio Scudiero, Curator and Director of the Depero National Archive

Scudiero is the leading expert on Futurism and Director of the Depero National Archive within the Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto (Mart) in Rovereto, Italy. He studied aesthetics with Dino Formaggio and modern art history with Mario De Micheli, earning a degree in architecture. In the 1980s, he contributed to the reevaluation of the work of Futurist painter Fortunato Depero, following the line of research initiated by Bruno Passamani. He is the leading scholar not only of Depero but also of Iras Baldessari. He has curated over one hundred exhibitions in Italy and abroad on Futurism and related themes, as well as on other specific areas of interest such as avant-garde graphic design, advertising posters, American comics, and Aeropainting. He is also an expert in "Avant-Garde Literature," particularly that of Eastern Europe.

He has been a member of the scientific committee of the Wolfsonian FIU in Miami, the American counterpart of the Wolfsoniana in Genoa, and a consultant on Futurism at Yale University. With the exhibition at the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, he brought works by major Futurist painters—Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Gino Severini, and Carlo Carrà—to Taiwan for the first time.

For years, he wrote for the cultural pages of Il Giornale and Arte by Mondadori. Between exhibition catalogs and monographic books, he has over 200 publications to his credit.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Italian Cultural Institute in Washington