Tommaso Geraci Explained

Tommaso Geraci (29 June 1931 – 26 August 2020) was an Italian sculptor, worked in the Sicilian town of Cefalù.

Life & work

Born in Sclafani Bagni, Sicily,[1] Geraci graduated from the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, Netherlands in fine arts and sculpture, spending a year of his studies at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Italy.

Geraci was awarded the Italian national honour of Cavaliere dell'Ordine della stella della Solidarietà Italiana (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity) in 1974.[2]

Since graduating, Geraci became well known for his sculpture, working mainly in bronze. Many of his works are symbolic, drawing on the lessons of mythology, promoting humanity, and frequently take the form of circular plaques or medallions, small and large.

Works include the 1.9 m (6 ft) diameter bronze plaque at Palermo International Airport in memory of anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, and a 9 m high statue of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina at Poggio Maria, Cefalù.

His works are known to be found in Denmark, Netherlands[3] [4] [5] (including a monument in Leersum to the space age following the launch of Sputnik 1[6]), Italy, and the Vatican. Geraci died on 26 August 2020 at the age of 89.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Italian Art Triennial of the coin, Volumes 3-5. 1973. Loggia del Lionello.. 11 February 2011.
  2. Web site: GERACI Tommaso: Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (già Stella della solidarietà italiana). Presidenza della Repubblica. 7 September 2014.
  3. https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=KBPERS01:002801024:mpeg21:p00002 Het was groots wat zij deed
  4. https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010815371:mpeg21:p003 Roekoek-beeld voor Rotterdam
  5. HERMAN MOSCOVITER, "Tommasso Geraci (10 nieter-beeld) strijdt tegen abstracte kunst,Werkelijke kunstenaars zijn altijd bescheiden'." "Het vrije volk : democratisch-socialistisch dagblad". Rotterdam, 01-11-1968, p. 18. Accessed on Delpher, 15-12-2021.
  6. Web site: Monument voor het Ruimtetijdperk. 7 September 2014.
  7. https://www.esperonews.it/2020083191985/categoria-a-f/cefalu/cefalu-il-silenzioso-addio-di-tommaso-geraci-scultore-dal-forte-impegno-sociale/