Kalosèidos No. 8, 2020

Luigi Festa  

Luigi Festa was born in Rome in 1954 and is a descendant of the painter Pietro Gagliardi (Rome, 1809–1890).

A pupil of Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri, from the school of Renato Guttuso, he graduated from the Artistic High School in Rome in 1971.

At the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Rome, he attended the architectural composition courses of Luigi Pellegrin and Maurizio Sacripanti, Bruno Zevi’s courses in operative criticism, and Filiberto Menna’s art history courses, developing a study on the relationships between architecture and kinetic and programmed art.

In 1977, he graduated in architecture under the supervision of architect Maurizio Sacripanti, with a thesis on museum spaces.

He received his professional training with Sacripanti and collaborated with him until 1984, taking part, among other projects, in the design of Piazza Federico di Montefeltro in Forlì, the theatre in the former convent of San Domenico in Forlì, and the Maccagno Museum (VA).

From 1988 to 2021, he worked as a designer, site manager, and works inspector for a large public company.

Alongside his work as an architect, he maintained a constant interest in the visual arts, producing numerous graphic design projects and exhibition installations, including the logo for the “1985 Volleyball World Championships,” now the trademark of the Italian Volleyball Federation, and the exhibition space of the National Roads Authority at the “World Tunnel Congress 2001” in Milan.

From 1998 to 2004, with works from his early figurative period, he participated in the “Itinerarios de arte” exhibitions promoted in Spain by the El Catalejo gallery in Marbella.

In 2008, he exhibited works from his latest figurative period at the former Richard Ginori space in Milan. In 2012, with his first abstract works, he participated in a group exhibition promoted in Milan by the Falzone gallery.

In 2014, he exhibited the works from “Contemporaneità” at the Mihotel in Milan.

In 2022, the jury chaired by Vittorio Sgarbi awarded his work “Kalosèidos” first prize in the Hitherm Sculpture Competition in Agliè (TO).

In April 2023, he was selected as one of the twenty finalists for the Luigi Candiani Prize – Established Artists, and his work “The Future Begins Today” was presented in the finalists’ exhibition held at the SAC – Spazio Arte Contemporanea in Robecchetto con Induno (MI) in January 2024.

Three of his works were selected to participate in the international contemporary art event HUMAN RIGHTS, curated by Roberto Ronca in the city of Rovereto (TN) from June 8 to October 8, 2024. “The Future Begins Today” was exhibited at the Campana dei Caduti Foundation, “I Am Illuminated by the Fertility of the World” at the Chiesetta del Redentore, and “In Every Life I Mirror Myself” in the Baldessari Hall.

At the end of 2024, he participated in the competition for the creation of a work of art for the new building of the Fondazione Teatro alla Scala at Via Verdi 3 in Milan. The jury included Mario Botta and Maurizio Cattelan.

He ranked 11th out of 67 competitors, in recognition of the overall quality and artistic originality of his proposal.

Since 1989, he has lived and worked in Milan.