artists
Alessandro Montalbano
Alessandro Montalbano was born in 1962 in Catania, Sicily. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Florence, where he received a rigorous education in both painting and sculpture. His artistic journey began with painting—an expressive and dynamic style characterized by bold colors, strong graphic lines, and free, intuitive gestures. However, a growing fascination with volume and materiality soon led him to explore sculpture as a deeper means of expression.
In the late 1980s, Montalbano moved to Paris, where he began to refine his sculptural language. Revisiting classical materials such as clay, plaster, and marble, he expanded his practice to include complex assemblages of plaster, metal, and wood. A defining feature of this period is the interplay between solid and void—the negative space becoming as vital as the material itself. In 1994, his work was recognized with the Princess Grace Foundation Prize in Monaco, awarded at the invitation of the renowned artist César, who greatly admired his approach.
That same year, Montalbano created a two-meter bronze horse for an exhibition in Deauville, marking the beginning of his long-standing collaboration with the prestigious Susse Foundry. The foundry had previously honored his piece Rearing Horse in 1991, placing it alongside works by Giacometti, Richier, and Zadkine. His first welded bronze sculpture, the monumental Et le septième jour… (And on the Seventh Day…), was acquired in 1995 by the Principality of Monaco and now stands in its Open-Air Sculpture Museum among works by Arman, Calder, and César.
In the late 1980s, Montalbano moved to Paris, where he began to refine his sculptural language. Revisiting classical materials such as clay, plaster, and marble, he expanded his practice to include complex assemblages of plaster, metal, and wood. A defining feature of this period is the interplay between solid and void—the negative space becoming as vital as the material itself. In 1994, his work was recognized with the Princess Grace Foundation Prize in Monaco, awarded at the invitation of the renowned artist César, who greatly admired his approach.
That same year, Montalbano created a two-meter bronze horse for an exhibition in Deauville, marking the beginning of his long-standing collaboration with the prestigious Susse Foundry. The foundry had previously honored his piece Rearing Horse in 1991, placing it alongside works by Giacometti, Richier, and Zadkine. His first welded bronze sculpture, the monumental Et le septième jour… (And on the Seventh Day…), was acquired in 1995 by the Principality of Monaco and now stands in its Open-Air Sculpture Museum among works by Arman, Calder, and César.
This work exemplifies Montalbano’s raw, visceral aesthetic. The horse, dramatically rearing upward, appears propelled by an unstoppable life force. Its body—a chaotic construction of jagged bronze fragments—is neither polished nor smoothed, but rather left in a raw, almost primitive state. The tension of the sculpture lies in its height and aggressive composition, which reflects both physical power and creative force. The title evokes Genesis, yet here it symbolizes the act of artistic creation—the birth of visual language, the shaping of form from chaos.
For over three decades, Montalbano has exhibited across Europe and the United States at major international fairs and exhibitions including ARCO Madrid, Art Frankfurt, Art Brussels, Art Paris, and Lineart Ghent. In 2002, he was selected to represent Italy with his monumental sculpture Le Voyageur des Sens at the European exhibition Europa in Beeld in The Hague, alongside Manolo Valdés, Barry Flanagan, Maillol, and A.R. Penck.
In 2003, the Espace Carpeaux in Courbevoie hosted a significant retrospective: Alessandro Montalbano 1983–2003: 20 Years of Creation. In 2004, he participated in the 3rd International Sculpture Festival of Monte-Carlo with his piece Maternity, shown alongside works by Arp, Gargallo, Haring, Lipchitz, and Niki de Saint Phalle.
Other key exhibitions include Le sujet s’envole, le rythme reste at the Hospice Saint-Charles (Yvelines, 2010), and De Genèse à Naissance at the Hôtel-Dieu/Musée Greuze in Tournus (2015), a curated dialogue between his contemporary sculptures and the historic venue, organized by Mylène Grand.
In 2018, Montalbano’s works were showcased at the vast Halls Jean-Hélion in Issoire and at the Ecuries St. Hugues in Cluny as part of the city’s summer cultural program. In 2019, his solo show Les Interprètes was presented at the Galerie Haute de l’Embarcadère in Montceau-les-Mines. Throughout the summer of 2022, nine of his monumental sculptures were installed in the Portail des Jacobins in Carcassonne.
Most recently, in 2023 and 2024, his sculptures were included in the Art In Situ program, which brings together contemporary art and Burgundy’s rich winemaking heritage along the celebrated Route des Grands Crus.
After 25 years in Paris, Montalbano relocated in 2013 to southern Burgundy, where he continues to live and work—immersed in the rhythm of nature and the enduring dialogue between material, form, and spirit.
Main Awards
Public Collections
Main Exhibitions
(*Solo exhibitions are marked with an asterisk)
2025
For over three decades, Montalbano has exhibited across Europe and the United States at major international fairs and exhibitions including ARCO Madrid, Art Frankfurt, Art Brussels, Art Paris, and Lineart Ghent. In 2002, he was selected to represent Italy with his monumental sculpture Le Voyageur des Sens at the European exhibition Europa in Beeld in The Hague, alongside Manolo Valdés, Barry Flanagan, Maillol, and A.R. Penck.
In 2003, the Espace Carpeaux in Courbevoie hosted a significant retrospective: Alessandro Montalbano 1983–2003: 20 Years of Creation. In 2004, he participated in the 3rd International Sculpture Festival of Monte-Carlo with his piece Maternity, shown alongside works by Arp, Gargallo, Haring, Lipchitz, and Niki de Saint Phalle.
Other key exhibitions include Le sujet s’envole, le rythme reste at the Hospice Saint-Charles (Yvelines, 2010), and De Genèse à Naissance at the Hôtel-Dieu/Musée Greuze in Tournus (2015), a curated dialogue between his contemporary sculptures and the historic venue, organized by Mylène Grand.
In 2018, Montalbano’s works were showcased at the vast Halls Jean-Hélion in Issoire and at the Ecuries St. Hugues in Cluny as part of the city’s summer cultural program. In 2019, his solo show Les Interprètes was presented at the Galerie Haute de l’Embarcadère in Montceau-les-Mines. Throughout the summer of 2022, nine of his monumental sculptures were installed in the Portail des Jacobins in Carcassonne.
Most recently, in 2023 and 2024, his sculptures were included in the Art In Situ program, which brings together contemporary art and Burgundy’s rich winemaking heritage along the celebrated Route des Grands Crus.
After 25 years in Paris, Montalbano relocated in 2013 to southern Burgundy, where he continues to live and work—immersed in the rhythm of nature and the enduring dialogue between material, form, and spirit.
Main Awards
- 1994 – Princess Grace Foundation Prize (invited by César), Monaco
- 1991 – Susse Frères Fondeurs Prize, Paris
Public Collections
- 2019 – La Maison du Charolais, Département de Saône-et-Loire, France
- 2019 – City of Montceau-les-Mines, France
- 1999 – City of Drancy, France
- 1995 – Monumental sculpture, Principality of Monaco, Les Terrasses de Fontvieille – Chemin des Sculptures Rainier III
Main Exhibitions
(*Solo exhibitions are marked with an asterisk)
2025
- L'Art dans la Ville, 10th edition – City Center, Issoire (63), France
- LOIART Sculpture Park – Ville du Coteau (42), France
- Le zoo onirique – Group show, Jean-Marc Bassand Art Gallery, Porrentruy, Switzerland
- L'empreinte de l'ange – Group show, Galerie 3C, Charolles (71), France
- Jardins – Group show, Galerie Valérie Eymeric, Lyon (69), France
- Grenoble Art’Up – WS Art Gallery
- WS Art Gallery – Group show, Porrentruy, Switzerland
- ART IN SITU – Route des Grands Crus, Beaune (21), France
- Lille Art’Up – WS Art Gallery
- Souvenirs – solo, Galerie Mary-Ann, Mâcon (71), France
- Kunst Zürich – WS Art Gallery, Switzerland
- Art International Zurich – WS Art Gallery
- WS Art Gallery, Porrentruy, Switzerland
- ART IN SITU – Route des Grands Crus, Beaune (21), France
- ART IN SITU – Route des Grands Crus, Beaune (21), France
- Monumental Sculptures – solo, City of Carcassonne (11), France
- Jardins des Soussilanges – Sculpture group exhibition, Céron (71), France
- Ateliers d'Art de France – Regional Laureate 2022, Moirans-en-Montagne (39), France
- Monumental Sculpture Exhibition – Jardins des Soussilanges, Céron (71), France
- Exhibitions canceled due to the health crisis
- Mon voisin le Charolais – solo, La Maison du Charolais, Charolles (71), France
- Les Interprètes – solo, Galerie de l’Embarcadère, Montceau-les-Mines (71), France
- Vers le Soleil – solo, Galerie Mary-Ann, Mâcon (71), France
- Galerie Izart, Pont-Aven (29), France
- Lyon Art Paper – Palais de Bondy, Lyon
- Art Protects – Librairie Yvon Lambert, Paris
- Indomptable – solo, Ecuries de St Hugues, Cluny (71), France
- Salles Jean-Hélion – solo, Centre culturel Nicolas Pomel, Issoire (63), France
- Musée Jean Larcena, Saint-Aubin-Château-Neuf (89), France
- ArtFareins – Biennale de Sculpture, Fareins (01), France
- Art + Objets – solo, Chapaize (71), France
- Art Galerie, Jonzac (17), France
- Galerie Izart, Pont-Aven (29), France
- Art + Objets – Chapaize
- Passage des Arts : Regards croisés – Galerie de Buci, Paris
- Art Galerie, Jonzac & Galerie Izart, Pont-Aven
- Trait d’union – solo, Galerie de Buci, Paris
- Art Protects – Espace Fondation EDF, Paris
- Art Galerie, Jonzac
- Cloître des Carmes – solo, Jonzac
- Galerie Izart, Pont-Aven
- Galerie de Buci, Paris
- Salon d’Art Contemporain et Antiquités, Champs-Élysées, Paris
- Trait sensible – solo, Galerie Mary-Ann, Mâcon
- De Genèse à Naissances – solo, Hôtel Dieu / Musée Greuze, Tournus (Curated by Mylène Grand)
- Intérieurs – solo, Chapelle Sainte-Avoye, La Clayette (71), France
- Art Protects – Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
- Fièvre rose – solo, Espace Ricard, Dijon
- Anges et Démons – La Serrurerie, Beaune
- Contemporary Art Biennale – Guest of Honour, Marcigny (71), France
- Château de Chassagne-Montrachet – solo (21), France
- Le Cheval sans restriction – Haras National de Cluny
- Jardin de Sculptures – Maison d’Art – Collection Rex, Marcigny (71), France
- La cadence des formes – solo, Galerie Atelier des Arts, Tournus
- À vos papiers ! – Galerie Zonzon, Brest
- Galerie Atelier des Arts, Tournus
- Art Protects – Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
- Galerie Univers du Bronze, Paris
- Galerie Hofburg, Bressanone, Italy
- Galerie Zonzon, Brest, France
- Lagalery, Èze, France
- Galerie Zonzon – solo, Brest
- Lagalery, Èze, France
- Galerie Zonzon, Brest
- Art Protects – Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
- Zomer in Haarlem – Galerie Année, The Netherlands
- Galerie Schortgen, Luxembourg
- Lagalery, Èze, France
- La série Apologies – solo, Société Générale, Bourges
- Galerie Année, Haarlem, The Netherlands
- Galerie Année – solo, Haarlem, The Netherlands
- Le sujet s’envole, le rythme reste – solo, Hospice Saint-Charles, Rosny-sur-Seine, France
- New Talents – Art Gallery 826, Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium
- Affordable Art Fair – Paris
- Lille Art Fair – Lille, France
- Art Gallery 826, Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium
- Art Protects – Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
- Galerie Anagama, Versailles, France
Artist's works