Franco Fontana

born in 1933 in Modena (Italy)

"The image is less important than the concept and the feeling it evokes. The main thing is to communicate it, to share it by any means."> Read more

Franco Fontana is one of the greatest masters of contemporary art photography in Italy. Fontana's style was formed in the late 1960s under the influence of abstract expressionism and minimalism. His masters were his contemporaries Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Ed Reinhardt.

In contrast to the classic black and white art photography that predominated at the time, his work emphasises form and colour through singular geometric compositions and vivid shades.

Franco Fontana has had more than 400 solo and group exhibitions and is exhibited in more than 50 museums around the world. He has also collaborated with the most important magazines (Time, Life, Vogue...).

Skyline, Basilicata, 1975

Exhibitions at Polka Galerie

Exhibitions at Polka Galerie

Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione

Franco Fontana

Franco Fontana Giacomelli Consersazione
September 8 - October 28 2023

Selected Publications

Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline

Franco Fontana

Skyline
Contrejour, 2023
Paris Paris Paris Paris Paris

Franco Fontana

Paris
Contrejour, 2023
Invisible Invisible Invisible Invisible Invisible

Franco Fontana

Invisible
5 Continents, 2022
America America America America America

Franco Fontana

America
Contrejour, 2020
Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline Skyline

Franco Fontana

Skyline
Contrejour, 2013

Selected Exhibitions

Selected Exhibitions

Franco Fontana. Retrospective

December 13th, 2024 - August 31st, 2025
Museo dell’Ara Pacis, Rome, Italy

Franco Fontana. Modena dentro

March 27th - June 30th, 2024
Palazzo dei Musei, Modena, Italy

Colore

March 8th - August 25th, 2024
Via dei Musei, Brescia, Italy

Franco Fontana : Color in Life

September 30th, 2022 - March 1st, 2023
My Art Museum, Seoul, South Corea

Horizons

December 10th, 2021 - February 28th, 2022
Le Kiosque, Vannes, France

Mostra di Franco Fontana a Cetinje

July 28th - September 1st, 2017
Museo Nazionale del Montenegro, Cetinje, Montenegro

Festival Photo La Gacilly

June 5th - Septembre 30th, 2015
Festival La Gacilly Photo, La Gacilly, France

Fotografica Bogotá

May 4th - June 13th, 2013
Bogotá, Colombia.

Paris Photo

November 14th - 18th, 2007
Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France.

Collections permanentes

Since 1988
Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Paris, France