Alberto Giacometti

Swiss-born Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966) was a sculptor and painter who was recognized as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. After moving to Paris in the early 1920s, Giacometti explored Cubism and Surrealism before developing his own distinctive style in the 1940s. His art explores the essence of human existence – his slender, elongated figures seem to hover between presence and absence, strength and fragility. Awarded the Grand Prize for Sculpture at the 1962 Venice Biennale, he became one of the most celebrated and influential artists of his time.