ROME, ITALY.- Ugo Attardi, one of the most versatile Italian artists, died the morning of July 21 at the age of 83 in Rome. Attardi´s fame crossed borders as a well known painter, sculptor and writer.

Ugo Attardi was born in Genoa and grew up in Palermo. In 1945 founded Consagra and Guttuso 'Forma 1', the first group of abstract painters of the post war era. Later, he dedicated himself to his expressionist existencialist style.

Since the 1950s, he participated at the Venice Biennale. He exhibited in Italy´s major museums. During the 1970s, after a trip to Spain, Attardi discovered the classics and dedicated himself to classical studies. During those years he also wrote 'L'erede selvaggio'.

Attardi´s sculptures can be seen in New York, Buenos Aires and Malta, where a sculpture of Aeneas is present at the port of La Valetta.

Around 1956 he created a magazine called "Città Aperta" (Open City) directing his artistic interests totally toward political commitment and close to the expressionism of Francis Bacon. In 1963, he made an exhibition in the Gallery 63 in New York. His last works were the sculpture "Ulisse" for New York City and "Enea" for the Parma seaport. Among his works "I Colori dell'amore," "Il Giocatore," "L'Uomo e l'Aurora" and "Sognava Don Chisciotte."

"The Italian cultural scene has lost a great sculptor, an original painter and sculptor, who contributed to make Italian art better known throughout the World”, said the Italian Minister of Culture, Franceso Rutelli.

"The greatness of his talent demolished frontiers. His paintings of unforgettable Rome sunsets and his sculptures exalting the dignity of man will continue to speak a universal language understood by anyone anywhere who aspires to beauty and freedom," said the life senator, who in 2002 made Attardi a Grand Officer of the Italian Republic. Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said that "he was one of the greatest geniuses of the Italian world of art and culture" , reported ANSA.