Archive

Archivio Piero Dorazio was established in 2014, at the express wish of Piero Dorazio’s heirs, with the purpose of studying, preserving, and promoting the artist’s oeuvre. The Associazione intends to carry out its mission by developing the areas of history and research.

To appreciate and study the work of Dorazio from a historical perspective, the Archivio Piero Dorazio is tasked with registering and cataloguing the artist’s entire practice. This includes bibliographical documentation (catalogues, magazines, essays, etc.), but also personal documents (correspondence, photos, etc.) that can contribute, directly or indirectly, to understanding his body of work. From a research point of view, the primary concern is an historic-artistic analysis, aimed at the study of Dorazio in relationship to his time and his peers and the catalogue raisonné of his body of work, which will allow for a thorough understanding of the development of the artist’s language.

The preservation of Dorazio’s work is carried out by archiving the largest possible part of his work created over the course of his lifetime. The Archivio Piero Dorazio issues archive certifications for the works that are deemed authentic by the technical committee, whose expertise is also sought in collecting and examining material thought to be forgeries as well as analyzing their provenance and nature. The Archivio Dorazio reserves the right to proceed in the most suitable manner whilst denouncing any falsifications, and take action against any activity that could in any way be harmful to the Maestro’s work.

The enhancement of Piero Dorazio’s oeuvre occurs by highlighting lesser-known aspects of his practice, an analysis of his diverse influences and his relationship with other artists, including those with a literary, musical, or film background, thus placing his work in a European and international context. The promotional aspect of this analysis includes, but is not limited to, organizing exhibitions, publications, conferences, videos, and other products of widespread distribution, as well as editions based on Dorazio’s ideas and original sketches intended for museums or the public at large.

Archivio Piero Dorazio preserves materials originating from the artist’s studio, arranged according to the international “Paper Series Description” method. This system safeguards the original structure established by the artist, prioritising the proximity of related documents and dividing them into approximately three hundred boxes organised into seven series:

Series I – Documents: Teaching and research activities in Italy and the United States.
Series II – Correspondence: Correspondence arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Series III – Photographs: Images of artworks, exhibitions, and public or private events.
Series IV – Texts: Manuscripts, typescripts, catalogues, posters, and press clippings.
Series V – Audiovisual Materials: Audio cassettes, video cassettes, and related media.
Series VI – Art and Design: Sketches, colour proofs, drawings, and textiles for industrial and graphic design production.
Series VII – Miscellaneous: Objects, ephemera (brushes, palettes), and legal or personal documents.

The artist’s personal library was instead granted on loan to the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, where it is held as the “Piero Dorazio Collection” (Fondo Piero Dorazio). Catalogues and monographs useful for cataloguing purposes have been retained at the Archive’s premises.

To request an appointment to consult the Archive, please write to: i.dagostino@archiviopierodorazio.it

To access the Library at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan – “Fondo Piero Dorazio” click here