River of Forms

A groundbreaking look at the drawings of Giuseppe Penone and how the medium of drawing articulates the artist’s wide-ranging practice

The youngest member of the Arte Povera movement, Giuseppe Penone (b. 1947) is well known for his sculptural works, yet he has maintained a deep engagement with drawing throughout his career. This comprehensive account of his works on paper emphasizes the foundational role that drawing plays in his multifaceted practice and provides in-depth analysis (aided by extensive conversations with the artist) of his techniques and materials, including such unorthodox media as coffee and adhesive tape. Identifying the centrality of drawing within Penone’s own exceptionally inventive body of work, and also placing it in dialogue with the work of contemporaries such as Sol LeWitt, David Hammons, and Cy Twombly, this lavishly illustrated volume provides a multidisciplinary examination of a surprisingly overlooked aspect of one of the most influential figures in international artistic circles since the late 1960s.

Published in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Exhibition Schedule:

Philadelphia Museum of Art
(September 24, 2022–February 26, 2023)