The monograph exhibition dedicated to William N. Copley (1919 – 1996) opens on 20 October at the Fondazione Prada. Through his works, the emblematic American artist wrote one of the most important history pages of contemporary art production in the United States. Copley embodies an original, eclectic, self-taught and untiring promoter of culture, thanks to his work as a journalist, editor, gallery owner and collector. Influenced by Surrealism, American folk culture and imaginary cartoons, he used humour and intelligence to explore themes that became recurrent in his production, such as pornography, patriotism and the unexpected potential of everyday objects. In fifty years of activity, he created a corpus of works containing ferocious satire, cunning and a challenge to conventions.
This retrospective exhibited at the Fondazione Prada is organised in collaboration with the Menil Collection of Houston (USA) and is curated by Germano Celant. It retraces the entire career of the American artist, which started in Los Angeles at the end of 40s, developed in Paris and subsequently cemented itself across Europe and the United States.
The exhibition includes over 150 works realised by Copley between 1949 and 1995 and is distinguished by the wealth and innovative aspect of the works. It constitutes the largest retrospective ever dedicated to the American painter. Also, for the first time ever, Italian audiences will have the opportunity to admire a corpus of masterpieces by Max Ernst, René Magritte, Man Ray and Jean Tinguely, which were once part of Copley’s personal collection and are now part of the Menil Collection.
“William N. Copley” – Fondazione Prada, Milan.
From 20 October 2016 to 8 January 2017
http://www.fondazioneprada.org/