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Leo CastelliFamous collector and gallerist
Date of Birth: 04.09.1907
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Leo Castelli
Leo Castelli was born on September 4, 1907 in Trieste, Italy. His mother was Italian and his father was Jewish. He obtained a legal education in Milan and worked in the insurance business. In 1933, he married the daughter of a wealthy Romanian industrialist, which allowed him to secure a favorable position in the Paris branch of Banca D'Italia. It was during this time that Castelli began actively collecting works of art.
The First Gallery
In 1939, Castelli opened his first gallery in Paris, located on Place Vendôme. He co-founded the gallery with his friend, architect, and designer René Druénon. However, with the onset of World War II, Castelli and his family were forced to emigrate to America.
Arrival in America
In 1943, after serving in the U.S. Army Intelligence, Castelli became an American citizen. He settled in New York City and began to establish himself as a prominent figure in the art world. Castelli played a significant role in the careers of artists such as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Serra, Donald Judd, Joseph Kosuth, and Bruce Nauman. His name became synonymous with various art movements of the 1960s and 1970s, including Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art.
Throughout his forty-year career, Castelli became the most influential collector and gallerist in the contemporary art market. He played a vital role in promoting and supporting groundbreaking artists, shaping the art scene of his time. Leo Castelli passed away on August 21, 1999, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of art.
