Luciano Castelli
Biography
Luciano Castelli is probably one of the most provocative Swiss artists, whose career spans over forty years. He came into prominence when exhibiting at famous Documenta 5, where Harald Szeeman took a radical step in exhibition making. Castelli deals with painting, sculpture, graphic arts and photography with an expressive theatricality as critique of a puritan society. Self-portraits from the 70s are marked by gender transformations, glam rock and performative androgynousness.
Together with Salome and Reiner Fetting, he was part of a highly influential group Junge Wilde, whose main feature was the refusal of the highly intellectual and strict Avant- Garde style of the 1970s. He later developed his own personal technique, particularly through his Revolving Paintings, for which he relied on a camera obscura. The result is painted images which can be turned 360° and have no defined upper edge. Since there is no fixed way to look at these paintings, they can be moved and turned as desired. This highly moving character of his Oeuvre is also reflected in his artistic style, whose undefined and opened lines immediately capture the attention of the observer. In fact, it is thanks to this expressive and quickly-moving painting style that Luciano Castelli became one of the most important exponent of the mentionen group die Junge Wilde.
His work has been subject to many kinds of interpretations. The words of the French psychoanalyst and art critic Jean- Michel Ribettes are of particular relevance for the analysis of Castelli's work: "Castelli's expressive theatricality is there to protest at the confusion of a gregarius, prudish, vilely mercantile period". This statement shows how Luciano Castelli's highly versatile approach not only is marked through is painting style, but also in the subtext of every one of his works.
vist artist website
Together with Salome and Reiner Fetting, he was part of a highly influential group Junge Wilde, whose main feature was the refusal of the highly intellectual and strict Avant- Garde style of the 1970s. He later developed his own personal technique, particularly through his Revolving Paintings, for which he relied on a camera obscura. The result is painted images which can be turned 360° and have no defined upper edge. Since there is no fixed way to look at these paintings, they can be moved and turned as desired. This highly moving character of his Oeuvre is also reflected in his artistic style, whose undefined and opened lines immediately capture the attention of the observer. In fact, it is thanks to this expressive and quickly-moving painting style that Luciano Castelli became one of the most important exponent of the mentionen group die Junge Wilde.
His work has been subject to many kinds of interpretations. The words of the French psychoanalyst and art critic Jean- Michel Ribettes are of particular relevance for the analysis of Castelli's work: "Castelli's expressive theatricality is there to protest at the confusion of a gregarius, prudish, vilely mercantile period". This statement shows how Luciano Castelli's highly versatile approach not only is marked through is painting style, but also in the subtext of every one of his works.
vist artist website
CV
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
Front White to White, Kunstherbst in the Jandorf, Berlin
2016
Plutschow Gallery, Zurich, "Revolving Paintings"
2014
Luciano Castelli Selfportrait 1973 – 1986, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
2013
Richard Saltoun Gallery, London, “Transformer – Aspects of Travestie”
2012
Galerie Gismondi , Paris, ” Paris – Paintings ”
BCA Gallerie Limited , London, ” City – Paintings ”
2011
Galerie Daniel Blaise Thorens , Basel, ” New Works ”
Galerie des 20. Jahrhunderts , Basel, ” Fotographie von 1973 – 2011 ”
Hotel Imperator , Nîmes, ” El Color de los Mitos ”
Galerie im Hofmeierhaus , Bremen, ” New works ”
Galerie Gisèle Linder, Basel, “Luciano Castelli. Fotografien von 1973 – 1996″
2010
Galerie Terminus , Munich, ” El Color de los Mitos ”
Galerie Gismondi , Paris, ” Hommage a Pierre Molinier ”
BCA Gallery Limited , London, ” Selfportraits ”
2009
Galerie Gismondi, Paris
Paris
Galerie Daniel Blaise Thorens , Basel
2008
BCA Gallery Limited , London
Galerie Baudoin Lebon , Paris
2007
Contemporary Fine Art, Saint Tropez
Daniel Blaise Thorens Gallery, Basel
2005
Guy Pieters Gallery, Saint Paul de Vence, “City Paintings”
Guy Pieters Gallery, Knokke
Terminus Gallery, München
Hegau Gallery, Singen
2004
Daniel Blaise Thorens, Basel, “25 Jahre Portraits”
Art Convent de la Missio, Palma, Mallorca
“A Propos” Köln, “Photographien, 1973-96”
Galerie 206, Berlin
2003
Reichlin, Küssnacht
Alex Art Galerie, Klosters
2002
BCA Gallery Limited, London
Atelier Reichlin, Küssnacht/CH
Art Basel (One Man Show), Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery, Basel
Bad Homburg, Kulturzentrum evangelische Kirche
Giardino Verde, Zurich
Dieter Keller, Lucerne
Alpha Art, Bremgarten
2001
Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin
BCA Gallery Limited, London
Daniel BlaiseThorens Galerie Basel, “50 Aquarelle”
Galerie Baudoin Lebon, Paris
Galerie Kamel Mennour, “Castelli Connection”, Paris
Galerie Terminus, “Gemälde + Arbeiten auf Papier”, Munich
2000
Galerie Mönch, Bremen
Reichlin Galerie, Küssnacht
Galerie im Hofmeierhaus, Bremen
Atelier Reichlin, Küssnacht am Rigi
Kraft Ausstellungshalle Basel, “Glassformate 79/80”
1999
Contemporary Art Gallery Boukamel, London
Daniel BlaiseThorens FineArt Gallery, Basel
Waschhaus Potsdam “Burning water”, Berlin
“Skulpturen”, Werkstattgalerie Hermann Noack, Berlin
Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery “Städtebilder”, Basel
Dieter Keller, Lucerne
1998
Galerie Tobias Hirschmann, Francfort
Alex’s Art Galerie, Klosters
Baudoin Lebon Galerie, Paris
Boukamel Contemporary Art Gallery, London
Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery AG, Basel
Hotel “Teufelhof”, Basel
Dieter Keller, Lucerne
Hôpital Broussais Paris
“Jazz Festival Montreux Poster Designs” Forum für Kunst und Architektur, Goldach/CH
1997
Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery AG (Art 97, One Man Show), Basel
Boukamel Contemporary Art Gallery, London
Raab Galerie, Berlin
Daniel + Cachou Spreng, Berne
Galerie Fischer, Lucerne
Baudoin Lebon (FIAC Paris, One Man Show), Paris
1996 – 1997
Daniel Blaise Thorens Fine Art Gallery AG, Basel
1996
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris
Couvent des Cordeliers, Paris
Bassam Boukamel Gallery, London
1995
Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
Bassam Boukamel Gallery, London
1994
Galerie Dovin, Budapest
Kaj Forsblom, Zurich
1993
Galerie Tobias Hirschmann, Munich
Galerie Vallotton, Lausanne
1992
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago
Raab Gallery, London
Raab Galerie, Berlin
Galerie Joachim Becker, Paris
1991
Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
Galerie Fischer, Lucerne
1990
Raab Gallery, London
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago
Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto
Galerie Ingrid Raab, Berlin
1989
Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts (Retrospective), Lausanne
Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
1988
Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
Galerie Art Actuel, Liège
1987
Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago
Musée d’Art Contemporain, Dunkirk
1986
Kunstverein, Kassel
Galerie Hofmeierhaus, Bremen
Galerie Gisele Linder, Basel
Galerie Raab “A look behind the Screen”, Berlin
Ingrid Raab Gallery, London
1985
Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
Kunstmuseum Lucerne
“Nordmann Art Prize 1984”, Lucerne
1984
Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
Galleria II Capricorno, Venice
Galerie Becker, Cannes
Kunstmuseum Lucerne
1983
Galerie Baronin-Lambert, Gent
1982
Annina Nosei Weber Gallery, New York
Galerie Farideh Cadot, Paris
Galerie Eric Franck, Geneva
Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne
1981
Centre d’Art Contemporain (mit Salomé), Geneva
1979
Galerie Pablo Stähli, Zurich
1978
Galerie Handschin, Basel
1975
Galerie Pablo Stähli, Zurich
Galerie de Appel, Amsterdam
Galerie ‘t Venster, Rotterdam
1971
Galerie Toni Gerber, Berne
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
SPSI Art Museum Shanghai, “Chinas Abstraktion und die Figuration des Westens” ( Tan Ping / Luciano Castelli)
Groninger Museum, Nederland “De Nieuwe Wilden” Eröffnung 29. April 2016
Fondation Pierre Arnaud, Centre d’art Crans Montana, Suisse “Le Corps Peint, Nature, Violence et Séduction”, 4 June – 9 October 2016
Helmhaus Zürich „Hinter jedem Berg steht noch ein Berg“ Eine Begegnung von Kunst aus China und der Schweiz 9.Dezember 2016 – 5. Februar 2017
Galerie Museum Baviera, Zürich „25 Jahre Baviera“
2015
The Natonal Art Museum of China, Peking, “Chinas Abstraktion und die Figuration des Westens”, 21 May 2015
Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris, “Performance en Suisse de 1960 – 2015″
Swiss Institute/ Contemporary Art, New York, “Work Hard”, Selections by Valentin Carron, 4 – 24 May 2015
Städel Museum Frankfurt, “Figurative Malerei in der BRD der 80er Jahre” 21 June – 18 October 2015
Galerie Andrea Caratsch Zürich, PIPE DREAM / Araki, Castelli, Molinier, Newton, Pierre & Gilles
Plutschow Gallery, Zürich, „Horizons“
2014
Gilbert Stiftung für Kultur, Rapperswil, “The Optical Unconscious/ Das Optische Unbewusste”
Kunstmuseum Bern, „Das schwache Geschlecht. Neue Mannsbilder in der Kunst“
2013
Kunsthaus Interlaken “Expressiv / Exzessiv”
Kunstmuseum Luzern, Lucerne, “Neunzehnhundertsiebzig, Material, Orte, Denkprozesse”
Galerie Baviera, Zurich, “Fotographien der 70er Jahre”
Richard Saltoun Gallery, London, “Transformer” (Aspects of Travesty)
2012
Aargauer Kunsthaus, Schweiz, La jeunesse est un art
Townhouse , Zurich, Death can dance
Scheublein Fine Art, Zurich, Eros & Thanatos
Casa de la Provincia, Sevilla, Toreador
L Espace Commines, Paris, Toreador
Camera Work Gallery Berlin, Colors
2011
Chapelle Sainte – Anne , Arles, Toreador
Plaza de Torros de Las Ventas, Madrid, Toreador
Galerie Daniel Blaise Thorens, Basel, New works
Galerie Villa Mainau , Zurich, Bildersturm
2010
MEP / Maison Europeenne de la Photo , Paris, Extremitäten
BCA Gallery Limited, London, Sculptures
2009
Passage de Retz, Paris, Narcisse Blesse
Muse des Beaux Arts, Bordeaux, Le Corps peint n est pas moins abstrait qu une ligne
Galerie Daniel Blaise Thorens, Basel, Artist of the Gallery
2008
BCA galerie Limited, London, Artist of the Gallery
Galerie Daniel Blaise Thorens, Basel, Group Show
Fotomuseum Winterthur, Darkside” Fotografische Begierde und fotografierte Sexualität
Musée cantonal des beaux-arts, Lausanne „Du Nord. Collections du XVe siècle à nos jours“
2007
Neues Schloss Meersburg am Bodensee “Die Expressive Geste”
Deutsche Expressionisten / Afrikanische Kunst
2006
Bordeaux, Musée des Beaux Arts: “Pierre Molinier” Jeux de Miroirs.
Centre d’Art Contemporain de Genève : “L’Art Contemporain Suisse dans la Collection Suisse” – Collection Julius Baer
2005
Mobiliar, Bern, Ladies First
Bordeaux, Musée des Beaux Arts: “Pierre Molinier entre Autre(s) Genre(s)”
Kunstforum der Berliner Volksbank “Bilder + Bilanzen” Von Antes bis Zylla Werke aus der Kunstsammung der Berliner Volksbank
2004
Tui AG, Hannover “Golf”
Triennale, Fellbach
FIAC, Paris, Gallery Michael Schultz
2003
Diocèse de Lille, N-D de la Treille
2002
Bilder aus Baden, Kunstsammlung der Badischen Stehlwerke, Karlsruhe.
Farbe ist Feuer, Die Sammlung Karin und Uwe Hollweg, Kunsthalle Bremen
Le diaphane et l’obscur, made by Jean-Michel Ribettes, Maison européenne de la photographie, Paris
2001
Skulpturen, Werkstattgalerie Hermann Noack, Berlin
Temps Fauves, Musée Edgar Melik, Cabries
Die Kunst des Mobiliars, Kunstmuseum Bern
1989 Berliner Mauer, Kunst für ein Europa im Aufbruch, Kunsthalle Cologne
Er fliegt und fliegt, Kunstverein, Bad Salzderfurth
Galerie Thorens, Basel
2000
Narcisse Blessé, Passage de Retz, Paris
Boukamel Contemporary Art Gallery, London
Galerie Tobias Hirschmann, Francfort
Intermezzo, Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin
In Szene Menschenbilder, Tobias Hirschmann Galerie, Francfort
“Between the Bridges”, Waschhaus Potsdam
1999
“Sculpture in Vetro”, Berengo Collection, Palazzo delle Prigioni, Venice
“Berengo Collection”, Hotel Cipriani Venice
“19. + 20. Jahrhundert”, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Sion Switzerland
Boukamel Contemporary Art Gallery, London
1998
“Artaid 98”, Edinburgh City Art Centre, Edinburgh
“Luciano Castelli/Rainer Fetting”, Musée Edgar Melik, Château de Cabries
“Fétiches + Fétichismes”, Passage de Retz, Paris
“Hasenzauber”, Museum Bellerive, Zurich
Raab Galerie, Berlin
Boukamel Contemporary Art Gallery, London
“Waschhaus Potsdam”, Stadtindianer, Potsdam
Marmelsteiner Kabinett, Diözese Würzburg
“Von Baselitz bis Warhol”, zeitgenössische Christusbilder, Würzburg
Rathaus Sursee “Landpartie”, Collection of the Kunstmuseum Lucerne, Sursee Switzerland
Daniel BlaiseThorens Gallery, “Großformate”, Basel
1996
“Art au Corps”, MAG, Galeries contemporaines des Musées de Marseille
Galerie Farideh Cadot (20th anniversary of the gallery), Paris
“Berliner Mauer. 30 Künstler für die Freiheit”, ELAC, Lyon
1995
“Le Corps peint n’est pas moins abstrait qu’une ligne”, Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
“Meret Oppenheim”, Galerie Tobias Hirschmann, Francfort
“Bahnhofstrasse Zürich”, Galerie Kaj Forsblom, Zurich
Bassam Boukamel Gallery, London
1994
“14. Gemäldeausstellung”, Trubschachen/Switzerland
10ème Salon d’Art Contemporain, Bourg-en-Bresse
Galerie Art Actuel, Liège.
“Einstellung 25”, Photographie der 90er in Deutschland, Galerie Raab, Berlin
1993
“EroticArt”, Galerie Becker, Paris
1992
“Le Portrait dans l’Art contemporain”, Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, Nice
1991
“Nature – Création du peintre” / “Natur – Schöpfung des Malers”, Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne
“Peintre/Sculpteur”, Galerie Ingrid Raab, Berlin
“Interferenzen – Kunst aus Westberlin 1960-1990”, Kunsthalle Latvija und Arsenal, Riga, Latvia
“Peintre/Sculpteur”, Raab Gallery, London
“Paris – Bar Berlin”, Artcurial, Paris
“Le Mur de la Liberté”, Paris
1990
“Luciano Castelli/Knut Hoffmeister”, Freitagsgalerie Imhof, Solothurn Switzerland
“Oeuvres Choisies”, Baselitz, Castelli, Fetting, Gainon, Lüpertz, Galerie J. Becker, Cannes
1989
“Dimension: petit” / “Grösse: klein”, Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne
“Arte Em Berlin 1900ATE OJE”, Fundacao Galouste Gulbenkian/Centro De Arte Moderna, Lisbon
“Berlin”, Galerie Bau AI Set, Barcelona
1988
“Passion”, Musee d’art Contemporain, Dunkirk
“Austausch, Manila-Berlin”, Galerie Raab, Berlin
“10 zeitgenössische Schweizer Künstler”, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Kyoto City Art Museum, Kyoto, Seibu Museum Funabashi
“Castelli, Fetting, Hödicke, Middendorf”, Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
“Mein Berlin”, Galerie Gismondi, Paris
“Symbolism, Force and Spirit”, Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago
Dorsky Gallery, New York City
“Artistes Suisses”, Galerie Pierre Huber, Geneva
1987
“Berlin Art 1961-87”, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Biennale of Sao Paulo
“De la Photo comme Peinture”, Galerie Municipale d’Art Contemporain, Saint-Priest
“10 Jahre Kunst, Galerie am Moritzplatz”, Kunstverein Bonn
“Exotische Welten/Europäische Phantasien”, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart
1986
“Austausch”, Pinagalaban Gallery, Manila
“Pierre Molinier, Photographies/Luciano Castelli, Zeichnungen”, Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
“Berlin heute”, Musée deToulon
“Androgyn”, Akademie der Künste, Berlin.
“1945-85, Kunst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland”, Nationalgalerie Berlin
“3 Generationen – 3 Monate”, Galerie Silvia Menzel, Berlin
1985
“Das Selbstportrait im Zeitalter der Photographie”, Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart and Akademie der Schönen Künste, Berlin
“An International Survey of Recent Painting and Sculpture”, Museum of Modern Art, New York
“Representation Abroad”, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington
“Gemeinschaftsbilder: Castelli, Fetting, Salomé”, Galerie Raab, Berlin
“Homo Decorans”, Louisiana Museum Humlebaek
“Das Aktfoto”, Stadtmuseum Munich and Frankfurter Kunstverein, Francfort
“Moritzplatz”, Kunstverein Bonn
“Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – neue Bilder”, Galerie Thaddäus Ropac, Salzburg
“Idol”, Galerie Raab, Berlin
“Drawing from Berlin”, Bette Stoler Galerie New York
“Ex-Change Berlin-Manila”, Gallery Pinaglabanan, Manila
1984
“Künstlerische Zusammenarbeit im 20. Jahrhundert”, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington
“Nackt in der Kunst des 20. Jahrhunderts”, Sprengel-Museum, Hannover
“Castelli, Bach, Fetting, Middendorf”, Galerie Joachim Becker, Cannes
1983
“Modern Nude Paintings 1880-1980”, National Museum of Art, Osaka
1982
“12 Künstler aus Deutschland”, Kunsthalle Basel and Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam
“Salomé, Castelli, Fetting. Malerei 1979-1982”, CAPC, Bordeaux
“Neue Gemälde der Joshua Gessel Sammlung”, Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv
“10 Künstler aus Deutschland”, Museum Folkwang, Essen
“La Rage du Peintre”, Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne
“SansTitre”, Musée de Toulon
1981 – 1982
“Im Westen nichts Neues”, Kunstmuseum Lucerne and Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
Ludwig Collection, Neue Galerie Aachen
“Heute”, Westkunst im Museum Ludwig, Cologne
“Berlin, eine Stadt für Künstler”, Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven
Galeria d’Arte Moderna, Bologna
“30 Künstler aus der Schweiz”, Galerie Krinzinger, Innsbruck
Kunstverein Francfort
Galerie Nächst St. Stephan, Vienna
1981
“Schweizer Kunst 1970-80”, Kunstmuseum Lucerne
3th Symposium d’Art Performance, Lyon
“Szene der Volkskunst”, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart
“Situation Berlin”, Galerie d’Art Contemporain, Nice
“Die letzten zwanzig Jahre”, Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven
“Baroque ’81”, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
“Salomé, Castelli”, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
“Enciclopedia”, Galleria Civica d’Arte, Modena
1980
39th Biennale di Venezia (Aperto)
1979
“Installationen”, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
“Schweizer Museen sammeln aktuelle Schweizer Kunst”, Kunsthaus Zurich and Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne “is-79”, Lisbonne
Fundatie Kunsthuis, Amsterdam
“Europa 79” Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart
“Europa 79” Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart
1977
“20 Artistas Jovenes Suizos”, Bogota, Medellin
1976
“Identität/Identifikationen”, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Bordeaux
1975
9e Biennale des Jeunes, Paris, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
1974
“Rapport der Innerschweiz”, Helmhaus, Zurich
“Transformer – Aspekte der Travestie”, Kunstmuseum Lucerne
1972
Documenta 5, Kassel
“12 Luzerner Künstler”, Berner Galerie, Berne
“Progressives Museum”, Kunstmuseum Basel
“Progressives Museum ”, Kunstmuseum Berne
“Giovane Arte Svizzera”, Milano
1971
“Visualisierte Denkprozesse”, Kunstmuseum Lucerne
“Die Schweizerische Avant-Garde”, New York
7e Biennale des Jeunes, Paris, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Banca del Gottardo, Lugano
BCEE Collection (Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat du Luxembourg)
Chase Manhattan Bank Collection, New York City
Collection Joshua Gessel, Tel Aviv
Collection Julius Baer, Zurich , Switzerland
Collection Martin Sanders, New York City
FNAC, Paris
Fotomuseum Winterthur Switzerland
Galerie Fischer, Luzern
General Motors Collection, Paris
Kunstmuseum Lucerne
Kunstmuseum St-Gallen
Kunstsammlung der Badischen Stahlwerke
Ludwig Museum, Köln
MAC, Galeries contemporaines des musées de Marseille
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris
Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne
Musée d’art contemporain Bourg-en-Bresse, France
Musée de Cannes
Musée de Dunkerque
Musée deToulon
Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam
Polaroid Collection
Sammlung Karin und Uwe Hollweg, Bremen, Germany