Licio Isolani Study Archive
Artist and former Pratt Professor Licio Isolani (1931-2015) donated a collection of his work to the Department of Mathematics and Science before he passed away in 2015. The donation was celebrated with an exhibition “A Strange Road of Materials” showcasing Isolani’s early sculptures and paintings. The Licio Isolani Study Archive at Pratt Institute was founded by Chair of the Math and Science Department Dr. Carole Sirovich and faculty member Dr. Cindie Kehlet, along with Dr. Lisa A. Banner, of the History of Art & Design Department, and Pratt’s Stockman Fellow conservator Sarah Nunberg. Graduate student Miriam Clayton has been part of the project as a STEAMplant graduate student where she has researched his exhibition background as well assisted in organizing the collection and the development of condition reports. We have performed X-ray fluorescence analysis on the sculptures showing that he primarily used dyes and not pigments in his fiberglass polyester resin sculptures. Further analysis using Raman spectroscopy needs to be performed to gain insight about his choice of dyes. A website has been created for the collection and one sculpture is currently on view at the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. For more information please visit:
https://commons.pratt.edu/steamplant/projects/