TRANSATLANTIC BRIDGES: CORRADO CAGLI, 1938-1948 OPENS OCTOBER 12TH, 2023, at CIMA, New York

Corrado Cagli, Il Neofita, 1933, Oil on canvas, 43.3 x 43.3 in (110 x 110 cm) Private collection. Rome, Italy.

This exhibition, curated by Cooper Union Prof. Raffaele Bedarida, will shed light on Cagli's captivating human and intellectual journey during his transformative years in the United States, from 1938 to 1948. Transatlantic Bridges will delve into Cagli's life as he was forced to escape his native country due to the censorship and persecution during the 1930s. A talented painter, Cagli was actively involved in public projects commissioned by the Italian fascist regime. However, after 1937, Cagli's work attracted fierce criticism from reactionary critics within the fascist establishment.

Corrado Cagli, Allegoria della Fontana Sbagliata, 1940, Oil on paper, 10.4x 8.4 in (26.5x 21.5 cm) Private collection. Rome, Italy.

As a Jewish and openly gay artist, Cagli became the target of virulent attacks, especially after Italy promulgated its racial laws in 1938. In response to these hostile conditions, Cagli chose to leave his homeland and seek refuge in the United States. In America, he became an influential figure within the New York émigré artistic scene. He found camaraderie among the Neo-romantic milieu centered around the Julian Levy Gallery and the Wadsworth Atheneum. Cagli actively participated in the environment of anti-Breton surrealists of View magazine and became a part of a foundational moment in gay culture in New York, collaborating with other artists working for the Ballet Society and Harper's Bazaar, and exhibiting at Alexander Iolas's gallery. Throughout his ten-year stay in America, Cagli continued to produce and exhibit drawings, a medium that allowed him to interrogate and critique fascist rhetoric. As World War II raged on, Cagli joined the US Army, receiving training on the West Coast before returning to Europe to participate in historical events, such as D-Day and the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp. At the war's end, he played a crucial role in re-establishing cultural connections between Italy and the United States, collaborating with MoMA, Irene Brin and the Roman Galleria L'Obelisco.

Corrado Cagli, Y & X 4, 1948, Ink on paper, 13.3 x 9.8 in (34 x 25 cm) Courtesy of Valery Decola. Rome, Italy.

The Center for Italian Modern Art’s new exhibition, which includes drawings, paintings, photos and ephemera, will not only explore themes of war, exile, and discrimination but will also highlight Cagli's multifaceted engagement with the New York Surrealist and Neo-romantic milieu. Additionally, it will shed light on his collaboration with George Balanchine and the Ballet Society, showcasing the depth and richness of his artistic legacy. Curator Raffaele Bedarida, PhD, a prominent art historian specializing in transnational modernism and politics, has extensive expertise in cultural diplomacy, migration, and exchange between Italy and the United States, making him uniquely qualified to unveil Cagli's fascinating narrative. The Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA) is honored to present "Transatlantic Bridges: Corrado Cagli, 1938-1948” as it showcases an extraordinary artist whose life and work resonate with themes of perseverance, transformation, and artistic expression amidst adversity. The exhibition promises to be a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of an often overlooked chapter in Italian and American art history.

Corrado Cagli, I Neofiti, 1934, Tempera on panel, 24 x 24 in (61 x 61 cm) Private collection. Rome, Italy.

Irving Penn, Cagli, Rieti, Leclerc e Balanchine, Ballet Society, New York, 1948, Photograph, 14.7 x 11 in (37.5 x 28 cm) Private collection. Rome, Italy.

OPENS OCTOBER 12TH, 2023, at CIMA, New York