Giacomo Balla

Italian, 1871 – 1958. Giacomo Balla was a Futurist painter, poet, and art teacher. The painter was known for his paintings depicting light, speed, and movement. Balla mainly wanted to express motion through his works. It was a distinct character of Balla's artworks compared to other well-known Futurist painters, who were inclined to portray violence or machines. His works often leaned towards whimsical and witty concepts. Giacomo Balla's geometric artworks featuring movement and light were influenced by artists like Gino Severini and Umberto Boccioni. He received inspiration for his work from industrialization and technology.

Giacomo Balla's famous artwork is a 1912 painting titled Dinamisimo di Cane al Guinzagio portraying a dog in motion. The speed of the dog's movement makes it impossible to see its legs. The painting portrays the influence of Balla's attraction with chronophotographic studies of motion. Dinamisimo di Cane al Guinzagio by Balla gets its inspiration from Eadweard Muybridge’s experiment with photography. Giacomo Balla was born in the Turin province of Italy. The artist was inclined towards pursuing arts at the age of nine while working at a lithograph printing shop. The painter also worked as an illustrator. He was a prominent part of the Futurist movement. The artist contributed in 1910 to the Technical Manifesto of Futurists and the Manifesto of Futurist Painters. In the year 1955, Balla exhibited his sculptures and paintings at Documenta 1 in Kassel. After Balla's death, his work was exhibited at Documenta 8. Giacomo Balla artwork for sale is available in many auction galleries.

Art collectors can find Giacomo Balla artwork at an auction or online platforms of leading auction houses. Today, art collectors can also find Giacomo Balla artwork at online auction and on display at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and many others.