Oliviero Rainaldi

Born in 1956 in Caramanico Terme, Italy. Lives and works in Rome.
Since 1975, he focuses his research on the human figure analysed with different techniques and materials: oil, bronze, plaster, marble, pottery, mosaic and fresco. Following his debut with narrative compositions, in the 1990’s, his attitude shifts to the representation of isolated figures, established through a linear mark in their essentiality ideal, where bodies as well as fragments of bodies, appear underground junctions with ancient and medieval cultures. His most famous work is a tribute to Pope John Paul II called Conversations, a sculpture located in Piazza dei Cinquecento in Rome, where the Pope is represented with very few notations of the face and with an open cloak to symbolise the spiritual heritage left to the city and to the world. Rainaldi’s work is present in numerous collections, in museums in Italy and abroad and in major public international institutions, such as Memorial in the UN building in Geneva, Human Baptisms in the Palace Stockholm City, home of the Nobel Prize and The Tribute, a sculptural installation of bronze and water recently commissioned by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which has become the symbol of this prestigious and sculpture historical collection of outdoor sculptures. Since 2000, Rainaldi works on various ecclesiastical commissions, creating the liturgical furnishings for churches in Rome, Terni, Prato and Warsaw. During the Jubilee of 2000, the Pope John Paul II awards him the title of ‘Academic’ of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi of Pantheon. Between 2007 and 2010, he creates sculptures-awards on commission dedicated to the issues of peace, human rights and culture, including: Alberto Sordi award (2009 to 2012); award for the peace San Francesco d’Assisi, Comunità S. Egidio, Rome / Assisi (2006 to 2008); award for San Valentino per l’impegno per la pace, Robert F. Kennedy Foundation of Europe (2008); 8o World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Campidoglio, Rome (2007); La Scienza per l’Uomo award, University Campus Biomedico, Rome (2007); Anima award, Unione degli Industriali e delle imprese, Rome (2010). In 2010 Rainaldi awards the European Personality Prize in Campidoglio, Rome and in 2015 the Brand Personality Award from ‘Asia Pacific Brand Foundation. Always in 2015, he receives a commission by Maserati Group to create a retro illuminated sculpture in marble for the celebration of the 100 years of the company. His works are exhibited in Italy and abroad, including: GAM, Rome (1990); Otis Parson, Los Angeles (1991); Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (1993); Polk Museum, Florida (1996); Museum Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen (2000); Museum of Modern Art Rupertinum, Salzburg (2000); National Museum Jakarta, Indonesia (2001); Műcsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest (2002); Tokyo Design Genter, Gotanda (2004); Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens (2006); Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan (2006); MASP – Museum of Art of São Paulo, São Paulo (2008); National Museum of Fine Arts, Buenos Aires (2008); Museo Jose Luis Cuevas, of Mexico City (2009); Expo, Shanghai (2010); Blickachsen 8, Bad Homburg and Frankfurt (2011); MAMbo, Bologna (2003); The Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome; Conversazioni, Piazza del Cinquecento, Rome (2011-2012); Santo, The Pontifical Council for Culture, Vatican City (2012); Antigone, Avvocatura dello Stato, Rome (2013); University of Roma Tre (2015); Soumaya Foundation, Mexico City (2015).