SalvatoreFiume
Biography
Salvatore Fiume (1915, Sicily, Italy – 1997, Milan, Italy) was an Italian artist known for his diverse talents as a painter, sculptor, architect, writer, and stage designer. Fiume showed an early interest in art, and at the age of sixteen, he earned a scholarship to the Royal Institute for Book Illustration in Urbino, where he refined his skills in various printmaking techniques such as lithography, serigraphy, etching, and xylography. After completing his studies in 1936, Fiume moved to Milan, where he immersed himself in the city's vibrant cultural scene, connecting with prominent figures such as poet Salvatore Quasimodo and writer Dino Buzzati. In 1938, he relocated to Ivrea, taking on the role of artistic director for the cultural magazine Tecnica e organizzazione, which was sponsored by Adriano Olivetti. During this time, he also wrote his first novel, Viva Gioconda!, which was published in 1943. In 1946, Fiume moved to a former silk mill in Canzo, near Lake Como, where he focused primarily on painting. His artistic exploration expanded to sculpture and architecture. His first solo exhibition in 1949 at Milan's Galleria Borromini was a success, with works like Isole di statue and Città di statue receiving critical praise. Fiume’s works were showcased in prestigious institutions around the world, including the Vatican Museums, the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Milan. In 1973, he traveled to Ethiopia's Babile Valley, where he collaborated with photographer Walter Mori to paint rocks with anticorrosive paints, adding a new dimension to his creative expression. Fiume's legacy is defined by his ability to blend Mediterranean classical influences with global artistic elements, creating a body of work that remains both unique and influential.