Ugo Riva: Art Inspired by the Classics
Italian sculptor Ugo Riva, born in 1951 in picturesque Bergamo, is one of the brightest representatives of contemporary art, who for more than 40 years has been creating works imbued with the spirit of the classics. His path to art was not quite ordinary: until 1977 he worked in the banking sector, but his real passion for painting and sculpture became apparent during his studies at the State Master's Institute. Here, among canvases and clay, he realised that his vocation was art.
After a short stay in the studio of Tarcisio Brugnetti, Ugo Riva decides to devote himself entirely to sculpture. His first exhibitions began in the early 1980s, and from the end of the same decade he began to collaborate with major galleries and art dealers, which opened the door for him to exhibit both in Italy and abroad. Ugo Riva's work attracted the attention of renowned critics such as Mario de Micheli, Vittorio Sgarbi and Donald Cuspit, which confirmed his status as a master of contemporary art.
Ugo Riva's sculptures are inspired by classical art and romanticised classicism. He rejects Futurism - the Italian contribution to modernism - and creates figures that are both solemn and meditative. These works evoke Etruscan and Roman gods, reflecting a deep connection to history and culture.
Ugo Riva works in a variety of materials, but bronze remains his main choice. In recent years he has also experimented with aluminium and ceramics. His most prized and significant works are his female images and angels. Ugo Riva's women, clothed or undressed, classically draped or anatomically perfect in their nudity, become the true objects of his admiration. But this is not worship; it is a profound respect for the feminine essence in all its manifestations.
Each sculpture by Ugo Riva is filled with material, from clay to the final bronze form. His unique approach is that he leaves visible the traces of his labour: the tools he has worked with, his own fingers and trowels. The final touch is the addition of fresco pigments to the patina, making each work unique.
In addition to sculpture, Ugo Riva has a great passion for drawing. In 2000 he created the Gospel for the Jubilee Year, and the following year he illustrated an edition of Giacomo Leopardi's songs. In 2003 it was the turn of the Book of Hours, containing twenty-nine songs of the Psalter translated by David Maria Turoldo. Ugo Riva personally met Turoldo in the seventies during a stay at Turoldo's monastery in the Rectory Abbey of Sant'Egidio In Fontanella. He also composed the Ave Maria and the seven songs of the New Testament, chosen by Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi, author of the introduction and commentary on the texts. The experience of the Evangelista and the Book of Hours renewed his interest in sacred art.
Ugo Riva's sculptures are not just statues; they are living images filled with feelings and emotions. Each work of art is admirable and makes the viewer stop and think. His works have such an attractive power that it is impossible to pass by them. They create an atmosphere that leaves viewers speechless before the beauty and depth of feelings.
In 2013, Ugo Riva was appointed a member of the Academy of Virtuosos at the Pantheon, a recognition that emphasises his importance in the world of art. The master continues to inspire and surprise the world with his art, staying true to classical traditions and giving them a new breath. Ugo Riva's works are not only a reflection of his inner world, but also an invitation to the viewer to think deeply about beauty, femininity and human feelings.
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