Franco Fontana

Born in Modena in 1933, Franco Fontana began photography during the 1960s. His first solo exhibitions were held in Turin in 1965 and in Modena in 1968. Fontana has always been interested in the depiction of landscapes. In 1978, the publication of his book Skyline became a turning point in his career and in Italian photography. In his book, he invents his own language by suppressing any unnecessary element; by combining lines, forms and colours, he creates images bordering on abstraction and reality. This eclectic photographer experimented with nude portraits as well as with city and architectural photographs, like in his Paessagio Urbano and then in his Presenza Assenza. We can notice the same rigour in his urban landscapes and in his Italian plains: bold geometrical compositions, colours and a minimalist vocabulary. 

Not only did Franco Fontana photograph his famous coloured landscapes, but he also produced an intimate - and often mischievous – Polaroid series. These little snapshots condensed Fontana’s favourite themes; various – rural, urban and bodily – landscapes were captured with their vivid colours, the illusion of perspective they provide and an extra touch of humour and light-heartedness. 

As soon as 1968, he created numerous add campaigns for brands like Volkswagen, Volvo, Ferrari, Kodak, Versace and Hermes.  

Considered as one of the masters of colour photography, he published around fifty books and his work was exhibited in more than 400 solo and group exhibitions all around the world. His photographs are included in more than 50 international public collections including the MoMa (NYC), the Museum Ludwig (Cologne), the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Gallerie Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (Turin) and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.