Lion of Damascus at The Middelheim Museum, Antwerp

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Mirko Basadella was a renowned Italian-American sculptor, painter, and draftsman. Born into an artistic family, his brothers Afro Dino Basaldella also made names for themselves as internationally recognized artists. Mirko studied art at the prestigious "Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze" and later at the esteemed "Scuola di Arti applicate di Monza," where he worked alongside the acclaimed artist Arturo Martini. Together with Martini, they collaborated in Monza from 1930 to 1932. In 1932-1934, both Mirko and his brother Afro joined forces with Arturo Martini in his studio in Milan. Mirko's first major exhibition took place in October 1928, when he participated alongside his brothers Dino and Afro Basaldella and Alessandro Filipponi at the I ° Mostra della Scuola d'Avanguardia Friulana (1st Exhibition of the Friulian Avant-Garde school). In 1934, Mirko relocated to Rome. In this new city, he worked alongside his brother and other artists in the gallery "Comet." Additionally, in 1934, Mirko's work was showcased at the esteemed "Galleria Sabatello" in Rome. He primarily created striking bronze sculptures. In 1936, he held his first solo exhibition at the "Comet" gallery. That same year, Mirko participated in the Venice Biennale and displayed his artwork alongside his brother Afro at the "Mint" gallery in Turin. In subsequent years, Mirko had exhibitions in Rome and New York. Between 1946-1947, Mirko experimented with pictorial styles that blended post-cubist and Metaphysical painting imagery. From 1948-1954, Mirko showcased his solo work at numerous galleries in New York, Rome, and Milan, while also creating monumental sculptures. Mirko took part in documenta I (1955) and documenta II (1959) in Kassel. In 1957, he moved to the United States, where he became the Director of Design Workshops (sculpture) at Harvard University in Boston until his death in 1969. In 1958, Mirko was awarded the prestigious Antonio Feltrinelli Prize.