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Gino MAROTTA (1935 - 2012) was born in Campobasso and began his artistic career at a young age. In the 1950s, he developed a series of diverse techniques, including encaustic works, collages of unconventional materials, and amalgamations of sand. His first solo exhibition was in 1957 at the Galleria Montenapoleone in Milan, where he showcased tapestries, encaustic and rubberised-cloth works. These were followed by others made from lead, aluminum, and his “bandoni” (found and assembled iron sheeting), which he presented at the Galleria dell’Ariete in Milan in 1959. In chemical industry workshops, factories, and foundries, Marotta experimented with new materials like polyurethane and polyester, creating sculptures using industrial mass-production processes. His focus on innovative materials continued with his methacrylate sculptures, which soon turned into Environments.
Marotta also ventured into cinema and theater, designing costumes and sets. He is particularly known for his collaboration with the renowned theater director Carmelo Bene, for whom he created the set design for the theatrical production Nostra Signora dei Turchi (1971).
Marotta’s work was featured in several important exhibitions. Internationally, he showcased his works at the Museo de Arte Moderno in São Paulo (1967) and the Louvre Museum in Paris (1969). He also exhibited at the Pace Gallery in New York (1971). Later exhibitions included the Biennale di Venezia (1984), the 11th Quadriennale d’Arte at Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome (1986), MACRO in Rome (2009). His legacy was further celebrated with a posthumous exhibition at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome in 2012.