Mauro Reggiani (Nonantola 1897 - Milan 1980)

He studied at the academies of Modena and Florence before settling in Milan in 1924. He then went to Paris where, in 1926 and 1930, he met Vassily Kandinsky, Alberto Magnelli, Jean Arp and Max Ernst. During this period, his art matures from academic painting towards abstractionism. He was among the signatories of the first manifesto of Abstractionism and a passionate advocate of new openings in art and new relationships more consistent with foreign avant-garde culture. He took part in major national and foreign exhibitions until his forced parenthesis of inactivity due to the Second World War. At the end of the war he returned to Milan and exhibited with the group of Gillo Dorfles, Bruno Munari, Mario Radice, Manlio Rho and Atanasio Soldati. In 1956 a personal room was dedicated to him at the XXVIII Venice Biennale. He was also given a solo exhibition at the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara in 1973 and in 1977 by the Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna in Turin.