Nino Longobardi

Nino Longobardi was born on 30 November 1953 in Naples, Italy.[1][2][3] He was primarily a self taught artist.[4] In 1968, Longobardi met curator and art dealer Lucio Amelio, who introduced him to many artists and opportunities.[5]

The 1980 Irpinia earthquake took place near Naples, causing a lot of damage, while changing Longobardi's art work and career.[6] As a result of the earthquake, Amelio hosted a series of art exhibitions and created a body of curated work titled Terrae Motus Collection (Collezione Terrae Motus). The exhibitions stretched over several years and featured over 50 artists (including Longobardi) highlighting the theme of earthquakes.[7]

After the earthquake, Longobardi started focusing his work on the human figure and the theme of life or death.[8][9] His paintings began to display imagery such as skulls, swimmers, and nude figures posing.[6][10][11] He used a limited color palette, often in black, white, browns, tans, and grays.[10][12][11] Sometimes the work would have repeated imagery, visually similar to printmaking.[13]

In 1982, Longobardi's work was featured in the exhibition "Italian Art Now: An American Perspective" at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, alongside other Italian artists, Sandro Chia, Enzo Cucchi, Gilberto Zorio, Giuseppe Penone, Luigi Ontani, and Vettor Pisani.[12]

Longobardi had his art studio and home in the Palazzo Tarsia, in the historic center of the city Naples.[14]

The sculpture pavilion “Codice Italia” was exhibited at the 56th Venice Biennale, and included work by Nino Longobardi.[15] His work is included in many public museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[16] Madre Museum,[5] Museo ItaloAmericano,[4] Princeton University Art Museum,[17] among others. Longobardi was interviewed in the documentary film, Lucio Amelio/Terrae Motus (1993) directed by Mario Martone.[18]

• Longobardi, Nino (2004). Nino Longobardi (art exhibition, Galleria d'Arte Maggiore in Bologna). Edizione a cura della Galleria.
• Longbardi, Nino; Oliva, Achille Bonito (1988). Nino Longobardi, Visibile e Invisibile [Nino Longobardi, Visible and invisible]. Milan, Italy: Fabbri.
• Longbardi, Nino (1982). Nino Longobardi, Opere Su Carta (art exhibition catalog, Galleria Il Ponte in Florence). Florence, Italy: Galleria Il Ponte.