Pietro Lazzari (May 15, 1895 - May 1, 1979)

An Italian/American artist and sculptor, born in Rome, Italy he was an influential sculptor, painter, illustrator and printmaker. Pietro Lazzari received his formal education from the Ornamental School of Rome (Master Artist). After the end of the First World War Lazzari joined the Italian Futurist movement and exhibited with such artists as Giacomo Balla and Gino Severini. He then moved to Paris for several years before returning to Rome where his first solo exhibition was held at the "Theatre of the Independents". With the rise of Fascism Lazzari left Italy for New York in 1925. In the following year he was one of only nine other European artists who contributed to an important exhibition at the "New Gallery", other participating artists included the 44 year old Pablo Picasso, Pascin and Modigliani. During the Great Depression Lazzari became an American citizen and was commissioned by the WPA for many mural paintings and sculptures. He participated in the influential exhibition, 'Abstract Art in America', at the Whitney Museum of American Art. He was represented by the influential Betty Parsons Gallery in New York. He married Evelyn Cohen in 1938 and is survived by one daughter.

In 1942 Pietro Lazzari and his wife moved permanently to Washington, D.C. He established his studio there and participated in many exhibits, mainly at the Franz Bader Gallery. During the following years Lazzari was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship and often traveled to Rome, where he sometimes entertained old friends, such as Mark Rothko with whom he had shared a studio while living in N.Y.C.

He taught painting and sculpture at The American University from 1948 to 1950, headed the Art Department at Dumbarton College and also taught at the Corcoran School of Art and Gallaudet College. Lazzari executed many bronze busts of humanitarians including Pope Paul VI, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Norman Thomas, Edward Steichen, Alexander Kerensky, and many other historic figures.

His sculpture, paintings and drawings can be found in many major collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian Institution, Miami Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museums of Fine Art.

Source:
Written and submitted by Klaus Preilipper