Alberto Giacometti Biography

Alberto Giacometti

Swiss

1901-1966

Biography

Alberto Giacometti, sculptor, painter, draughtsman, and printmaker was born in Borgonovo, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, on September 10, 1901. The son of a Post-Impressionist painter, Alberto’s interest in art was fostered at an early age. He attended the School of Fine Arts in Geneva, and in 1922 he moved to Paris to study under the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, an associate of Auguste Rodin. He built a reputation as a leading surrealist sculptor, alongside Miro, Ernst, Picasso, and Balthus. A brief stint at Atelier 17, studying under Stanley William Hayter in Paris in the early 1930s, prompted Giacometti's exploration of printmaking, a medium he would pursue with great dedication in the 1950s.

Giacometti was awarded the grand prize for sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1962 and with it came international recognition. He exhibited throughout Europe and, despite his failing health, he traveled to the United States in 1965 for an exhibition of his works at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He died in Chur, Switzerland, on January 11, 1966.
 
His works are held in major collections throughout the world.