Salvo Italian, 1947-2015

Salvo, born Salvatore Mangione in Leonforte, Italy, in 1947, was a multi-faceted artist whose journey took him from the sun-drenched landscapes of Sicily to the industrious city of Turin. His art evolved from creating economical portraits and landscapes to engaging deeply with the intellectual currents of his time. In the 1960s, amidst a climate of social upheaval, Salvo's work began to exhibit the reflective qualities that would come to define his oeuvre. His participation in the Arte Povera movement and encounters with American Conceptual artists catalyzed a body of work that was both introspective and historical, often incorporating text and self-portraiture.

In the 1970s, Salvo made a decisive return to traditional painting techniques, a move that aligned with a broader 'return to order' in the art world. This phase saw him reinterpreting and simplifying works of the great Renaissance and Baroque masters, infusing them with personal symbolism and contemporary relevance. By inserting his likeness into these reinterpretations, Salvo created a bridge between his identity and the collective memory of art history.

Throughout his career, Salvo exhibited a keen sense of place, as evident in his geographical works and landscapes, marked by a bright palette and a play on light that evoked the timeless beauty of the Italian countryside. His later works, while maintaining thematic continuity with his earlier phases, ventured into the realm of the fantastical, with mythological and architectural elements present across his canvases.

Salvo's work has been honored with retrospectives and exhibitions worldwide, reflecting his status as an artist who successfully navigated the waters of tradition and innovation. His legacy endures, with his artworks held in both private collections and public institutions, serving as a testament to his profound impact on the trajectory of Italian art.