​Contemporary South African Art

Baldenelli, Armando

Born: 1908 Ancona, Italy

Resided in SA from 1953.
 

A painter and graphic artist of figures, portraits,

still life and elements of landscapes.  Works in oil, acrylic, gouache, ink, wash, pencil, charcoal and in various graphic media, particularly woodcuts. 

 

1963-71 abstract works. 

 

1964-66 a number of assemblages in metal and wood.  A painter of frescoes and a mosaic artist. 
Studies: 1925-28 Academy of Fine Art, Rome; 1935-39 Istituto Superiore di Belle Arti, Modena, Italy.
 

Profile:

1962-63 a member of Gutai Pinacoteca, Osaka, Japan. 

1941-51 Professor at the Art Institute Aldini and Valeriani, Bologna.  A number of book illustrations in Italy.  A designer of stained glass windows; 1950-52 designed the windows of Noto Cathedral, Siracuse, Sicily, where he also painted alfrescos in the apse; 1962 designed the windows of St. George’s Presbyterian Church, Wolmarans Street, Johannesburg.  He is also interested in cinematography and has made a number of films.  1962-63 lived in Japan; 1964 in New York.  He has travelled extensively throughout the world. 

Exhibitions:

He has participated in numerous group exhibitions from 1931 in Italy, Zimbabwe, SA throughout Europe and in the USA; 1936 Istituto di Cultura, Bergamo, Italy, first of over 10 major solo exhibitions held in Italy; from 1953 he has held over 20 solo exhibitions in SA, the USA and Portugal; 1967 Pretoria Art Museum, Prestige Joint Exhibition with Gunther van der Reis (qv); 1975 University of the Witwatersrand, Prestige Exhibition; 1981 Republic Festival Exhibition; 1981 Rand Afrikaans University, Retrospective Exhibition; 1984 University of the Witwatersrand, Retrospective Exhibition.
 

Awards:

1936 Diploma d’Onore, Italian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Budapest, Hungary; 1946 Diplome d’Honneur, Musée des Beaux Arts, Nancy, France; 1950 awarded the Canadian Government Prize, Venice Biennial; 1965 Artist of fame and Promise Award.  Represented British Museum, London, UK; Civic Gallery, Bologna, Italy; Galleria d’Arte dei Contemporanei, Milan, Italy; Hester Rupert Art Museum, Graaf-Reinet; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Modern Art Gallery, Ancona, Italy; Modern Art Gallery, Florence, Italy; National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome, Italy; Pietersburg Collection; Pretoria Art Museum; Rand Afrikaans University; SA National Gallery, Cape Town; Sogetsu Kaikan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; University of Witwatersrand.
Public Commissions Numerous commissions in Italy. From 1953 a large number of mosaics and murals

in public buildings in SA, including at Jan Smuts Airport, Johannesburg. Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Johannesburg; Transvaal Provincial Administration Building, Pretoria; Natal Provincial Administration Building, Pietermaritzburg and in theatres, churches

and educational institutions.

References:

Umbro Apollonio, Baldinelli, 1964, Edizione d’Arte Moderna, Roma; Armando Baldinelli, with an introduction by Albert Werth, 1974, Gallery 21, Johannesburg; SAA; 20C SA Art; SAP & S; SESA; SSAP; BSAK1 & 2; Our Art 3; SA Art; 3Cs; AASA; LSAA; Fontein vol 1 to 3; SA Panorama November 1962, November 1982 and January 1984; Lantern December 1963; Artlook January 1967, March 1967, November 1967, September 1968, December 1969, June 1971 & April 1973; Habitat no 10, 1974, no16, 1975 & no 24, 1977; Flying Springbok September 1981 & January 1984; SA Art Calendar October/November 1981; Gallery Winter 1982 & Summer 1984; Armando Baldinelli, Yesterday and Today, 1984, University of Witwatersrand.