Born in 1926, Arnaldo Pomodoro is a contemporary Italian artist currently living and working in Milan, Italy. Pomodoro studied architecture during his adolescence and this interest in space and design manifests in his work. Many of his works on paper, with their use of precisely measured lines, appear similar to architectural drawings. In other cases, they appear to mimic his sculptural style by incorporating serrated shapes and rough patterning.

Paul Klee, the 20th Century modernist, initially influenced Pomodoro’s style. Klee’s geometric and rectilinear drawings inspired Pormodoro’s use of similar shapes in his early relief works. Pomodoro’s style evolved over time to move away from relief sculpture and towards freestanding works. Inspired by Constantin Brancusi’s use of smooth bronze, Pormodoro also rejected the artist’s perfectionism. In contrast, Pormodoro produces bronze sculptures that often appear to be tearing or splitting, revealing jagged insides. The physical matter of his sculptures evokes contemplation. They serve to both influence and be influenced by the space in which they exist.

Pomodoro’s work was exhibited at the 1964 Venice Biennale and since then many of his sculptures have been installed in public locations in countries including Spain, South Korea, Italy, and the United States. His works are included in the collections of many museums including the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois; Guggenheim Museum in New York, New York; National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia; Courtauld Institute of Art in London, England; Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy; and Calderara Foundation Collection in Milan, Italy.