Jannis Kounellis

It is to the visual and conceptual strength of his creations that the versatile artist Jannis Kounellis (Piraeus, 1936) owes his recognition as one of the most outstanding, complex and striking creators of the post-war period in Europe. In the opinion of the critics, this Greek is one of the last epic artists whose creations and manifestations are born in the name of ideals and principles: for Kounellis art is a field for reflection. Resident since 1956 in Rome, where he studied fine art, Kounellis is known as one of the founders and as one of the most genuine representatives of arte povera, a movement with which he participated in many exhibitions, receiving considerable international recognition. His work is well-known for incorporating organic and industrial materials such as iron, coal and fire, creating highly poetic compositions. His individual exhibitions have appeared in the most important museums in the world, from Rome's National Gallery to the Museum of Modern Art in New York, via the Reina Sofía Art Centre and the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.