Costantino Nivola. Sculpting the Wind
From Sardinia to New York, the great 20th-century sculptor is the focus of an exhibition at the Triennale di Milano that explores his extraordinary dialogue between art, architecture, and design.
Giving shape to the wind, transforming sand into sculpture, bringing art out of museums and into everyday life. This is the poetic and revolutionary vision of Costantino Nivola (1911–1988), one of the most original figures of the 20th century, to whom Triennale Milano is dedicating the major exhibition "Costantino Nivola: Sculpting the Wind", curated by Cecilia Alemani, from November 11, 2026, to February 14, 2027.
Over two hundred works trace the journey of an artist capable of crossing artistic languages and continents, while always keeping his connection to his roots alive. Born in Orani, in the heart of Sardinia, Nivola trained at the ISIA in Monza before moving to New York in 1939, fleeing fascism. There, he encountered the great ferment of American modernism, giving rise to a highly personal artistic language in which the memory of ancient Mediterranean civilizations meets contemporary experimentation.
A sculptor, painter, graphic artist, and designer, Nivola conceived of art as an integral part of architecture and the public space. Fundamental to his work was his invention of sand-casting, a technique that allows for the creation of concrete reliefs using sand molds, transforming an industrial material into surfaces of extraordinary expressive power. This artistic exploration found some of its most significant manifestations in the United States, including monumental installations, public buildings, and collaborations with the world of architecture.
The exhibition traces the various phases of his career, from his early graphic design work for Olivetti to his large anthropomorphic sculptures, from the essential forms inspired by ancient Sardinian culture to works conceived to engage with the city and its inhabitants. What emerges above all is the modernity of a vision that transcends disciplinary boundaries, affirming art’s social value and its capacity to forge connections.
The exhibition, designed by Alessandro Floris, thus presents a portrait of a profoundly contemporary artist, capable of uniting tradition and innovation, an intimate dimension and a monumental vision. A journey through matter, memory, and imagination, inviting visitors to rediscover beauty as part of our daily experience.
Costantino Nivola. Sculpting the Wind — Triennale Milano, Viale Emilio Alemagna 6. November 11, 2026, through February 14, 2027. Curated by Cecilia Alemani. Information
