Tullio Crali Aeropiturra

Tullio Crali, Incuneandosi nell'abitato (In tuffo sulla città), 1939, 51.25 x 61 in., MART, Roverto

Tulio Crali, Prima che si apra il paracadute, 1931. Translates to "Before the parachute opens"

Tullio Crali, Kamikaze, 1980, 39.4 x 31.5 in., MART, Italy

Tullio Crali, Rombi d'Aereo, 1927, watercolor. Translates to "Airplane Rhombi"

Tullio Crali, In Caduta Libera, 1964. Translates to "In Free Fall"

Tullio Crali, Volo Condiviso, 1933, 23.6 x 18.3 in., Christie's (sold for $65,005 in 2009)

Tullio Crali, Aeropittura 2, 1929, 17.75 x 21.5 in., Christie's (sold for $38,187 in 2010)

Tullio Crali, Cityscape, 1939, 35 x 46.375 in. framed, Sotheby's (sold for $157,000 in 2007)

Tullio Crali, Ballelica, 1932, 27.625 x 19.75 in.

Tullio Crali (1910-2000) was an Italian Futurist artist most known for his "Aeropittura" paintings.  He was a self taught artist who began painting in 1925 at the age of 15. Tullio was fascinated with airplanes and from the very beginning of his artistic career his work depicted themes of flight. He was inspired by the Futurist Movement and artists such as Balla, Boccioni and Prampolini. In 1929 he decided to contact Marinetti, the founder of Futurism, to express his interest in joining the movement; Marinetti welcomed him. It was that same year that "Aeropittura" was launched in the Futurist Manifesto "Perspectives of Flight", which expressed an emphasis on aviation as a key theme in communicating their belief in speed, technology and the machine. Though the Futurist Movement ended in 1944 following Marinetti's death, Crali remained attached to its ideals and aesthetics and even attempted to revive Aeropiturra in the 1960's with his manifesto "Orbital Art". He continued to paint, sculpt and lecture into the 1980's.  Throughout his career Crali created works depicting various subject matter, however he is best known for his dizzying aeropaintings. His most famous painting, Incuneandosi nell'abitato (In tuffo sulla città) or "Nose Dive on the City" happens to be my favorite.   Check out this video of Tullio here.