b. 1963, Venice, Italy Lives and works in Venice, Italy Gianfranco Meggiato is an Italian sculptor celebrated for his pioneering concept of introsculpture, a practice that draws the viewer’s gaze inward rather than limiting attention to external surfaces. Educated at the Istituto Statale d’Arte in Venice, where he studied stone, bronze, wood, and ceramics, Meggiato developed a language inspired by both biomorphic structures and the labyrinth—symbols of the human journey toward self-discovery and the revelation of an inner sphere. His work acknowledges influences from Brancusi’s pursuit of essentiality, Moore’s exploration of the internal–external relationship, and Calder’s openness to space. In his sculptures, void and volume coexist, with light and space entering the work, illuminating lattices and central spheres that embody ideals, dreams, and emotions. Since 1998, Meggiato has exhibited internationally across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, including invitations to the 54th and 55th Venice Biennale (2011, 2013) and Manifesta 12 in Palermo (2018). His works are held in prominent public and private collections, and he is widely recognized for creating monumental installations that merge contemporary form with historical and cultural contexts. In 2017, he began focusing on socially and scientifically driven public installations situated in significant UNESCO heritage sites. Major projects include The Garden of the Silent Muses (Catanzaro, 2017), a symbolic defense of culture against terrorism; The Spiral of Life (Palermo, 2018), dedicated to victims of the mafia; The Garden of Zyz (Matera, 2019), promoting dialogue across cultures; Quantum Man: There is no Future without Memory (Agrigento, 2021), exploring the intersections of archaeology, philosophy, and quantum physics; and The Encounter – Symbol of Peace (Rome, 2023), commemorating the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. His most recent large-scale works include Lines of the Invisible (Baku, 2024) and Awakening (Forte dei Marmi, 2024). In recognition of his ability to merge ancient heritage with contemporary expression, Meggiato received the ICOMOS-UNESCO Prize in 2017. In 2023, the Fondazione Arte e Cultura Gianfranco Meggiato was established to preserve and promote his legacy while advancing broader cultural initiatives.