Ezio Gribaudo, Forma e controforma, Venice

Following the exhibition held at Sans titre from April 29 to June 6, which brought together a selection of historical works by Ezio Gribaudo — including pieces originally presented at the Venice Biennale — the gallery is pleased to present an original bronze matrix. This rare object offers a unique insight into the remarkable technique Gribaudo developed for the production of his celebrated Logogrifi.

Far from being a mere technical tool, the matrix stands at the very core of the artist’s practice. Through a process of embossing, Gribaudo pressed paper against these sculpted surfaces to generate his distinctive relief compositions, where form emerges through pressure rather than addition. The resulting works, at once tactile and graphic, challenge traditional distinctions between printmaking, sculpture, and painting.

It was precisely this innovative approach that led to his recognition at the 33rd edition of the Venice Biennale in 1966, where he was awarded the Graphic Art Prize. By presenting the matrix alongside the works it enabled, this display sheds light on the often-invisible processes behind Gribaudo’s production, revealing the conceptual and material intelligence underpinning his practice.