NEW YORK, NY.- Bruno Romeda, the internationally renowned sculptor, whose artworks exhibited a touching hand-worked beauty in a simplicity of forms, has died in the South of France. He was 87. The announcement was made by his New York representatives Stephen Haller Gallery.

Born in Brescia, Italy, Romeda maintained residences in Italy, France, and the US. Energized with creativity he continued to work with a foundry in Brescia to fabricate his artworks until just before his death.

Best known for a simple alphabet of forms, his work stripped to the essentials: most often the circle, rectangle and triangle expressing universal themes. There was in his work the tension of high and low, of a minimalism but with hard-worked elements that gave a humanity, a vitality to his work. Bruno Romeda’s sculpture is found in major collections internationally and in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Kasama Nichido in Kasama Japan and the Musee d’Art Contemporain, Istanbul, Turkey.

As a very young man serving in the Italian military Romeda met American artist Robert Courtright on the Spanish Steps in Rome. Courtright became the love of his life. A courtly gentleman from the American South Courtright would later joke: “I couldn’t resist a man in uniform.” The two were constant companions until Courtright’s death in 2012 – a relationship lasting 60 years.

Romeda and Courtright were the delight of friends and family and held court in their homes especially in the South of France. In the village of Opio perched in the mountains above Cannes they purchased a stone farmhouse in a state of ruin on terraced land in 1956. The two spent years sculpting the house and grounds into a work of art in itself. The olive trees, rosemary hedges, cork trees of this fragrant area near Grasse proved inspiration to Romeda whose simple alphabet of bronze sculptural forms often created a framing device to appreciate the beauty of landscape.

Romeda and Courtright were part of the artistic scene in the South of France where they famously entertained with warmth and incredible hospitality a lively cross section of people from local workers to European royalty, architects and artists - people such as legendary art dealer Leo Castelli and entertainer Bobby Short.

Like famed fellow sculptors the Giacometti brothers and Alexander Calder, Bruno Romeda also designed works for the home - his sculptured furniture is prized by designers and collectors.

Last year Romeda, who had the rough handsome charm of an old time European actor – a Belmondo or a Trintignant - was honored at a ceremony installing a major circular sculpture (Cerchio) of his at the crossroads in Opio. Romeda was the village’s famed artist and oldest citizen.

Many people from expeditors who moved his sculptures across borders, to designers, fellow artists, and village friends say they miss the sound of his voice. He spoke Italian, French, and English – often in the same sentence - and with warmth and a sly humor. The man will be missed, but his sculptures will continue to please and frame the way Bruno Romeda saw and appreciated life.

A memorial mass was celebrated in the 12th century church of St.Trophisme in Opio and his remains are interred in the cemetery there in his beloved village.