Arthur Giardelli

Vincent Charles Arthur Giardelli, MBE, (11 April 1911 – 2 November 2009) was a Welsh artist of Italian paternal descent.

Early life and education Vincent Charles Arthur Giardelli was born on 11 April 1911, his father of Italian descent, and was raised in Surrey.

He earned a degree in Modern Languages from Hertford College, Oxford.

He later trained at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford, 1930–34.

Career Giardelli lived most of his life in Wales and was represented by the Grosvenor Gallery in London for a large part of his career. He was a friend of Welsh artists Cedric Morris, David Jones, Josef Herman, and Ceri Richards. He also had international artist friends including Zoran Mušič, Olivier Debré, and Fairfield Porter. (which later became The Welsh Group) and the 56 Group Wales, of which he became president towards the end of his life. He was also on the committee of the Contemporary Art Society for Wales and on the Welsh Arts Council.

Art Giardelli first began to take his art seriously in the 1940s, when he arrived in Merthyr Tydfil, where he first met Cedric Morris and Heinz Koppel who both encouraged him. The town had an immediate impact on Giardelli; he once told poet Meic Stephens that "when the train finally pulled into Merthyr, I felt I'd come home".

Giardelli used watercolours and found materials, including shells and driftwood. He was perhaps best known for his abstract relief constructions inspired by nature and the seasons.

Awards

1970: Winner, Visual Art prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales 1973: MBE 1979: British Council Award winner 1979–85: Honorary Fellow at University College, Aberystwyth 1986: Silver Medal of the Czechoslovak Society for International Relations 2002 Cyfaill Celfyddyd Cymru (Friend of Welsh Art) medal from the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Collections Giardelli's work is held in many collections, including the Tate, the National Museum of Wales, the National Library of Wales, Contemporary Art Society for Wales, Arts Council of Wales, Museum of Modern Art Wales, Brecknock Museum, Tenby Museum and Art Gallery together with museums and galleries in New York City, Dublin, Nantes, Bratislava, and Prague.

Publications Arthur Giardelli: Paintings, Constructions, Relief Sculptures – Conversations with Derek Shiel, Seren, Bridgend 2001.

Personal life and death Giardelli died on 2 November 2009.