Roberto Crippa

Gaetano Crippa, in art  Roberto Crippa (Monza 1921 – Bresso 1972) is one of the greatest representative of Spatialism. At the beginning his artworks were figurative and influenced by Cubism; in a second time, he met Lucio Fontana and he signed the Manifesto of Spatialsm.

His most famous works are Spirals and Totems. Theese subjects, acccording to the movement, go beyond two dimensions of canvas to expand in the surrounding space. Abstract and geometrical pictures, curvilinear lines which are often deceptive for spectators' eyes because break the ideal wall between the artwork and the user. 

During the second part of '50s he realized works with different materials so near to primitive symbolism. At first he used iron, bronze and steel, then in '60s he tested asbestos, cork, newspapers. 

In 1962 a serious air crash confined him to a wheelchair and he started painting abstract landscapes. He died in 1972 during an air practice for Flight World Championship.