Ibrahim Kodra (1918-2006) - Robot con fiori

Lithograph on paper in 8 colors - Hand-signed artwork at the bottom right and numbered at the bottom left - 50x70 cm - Year 1988 - Limited edition - Item will be shipped with a guarantee certificate 40/99 - Without frame - Excellent condition - Private collection - Purchase and provenance Italy - Shipping via UPS, SDA, DHL, TNT, BRT
Biography
Ibrahim Shaban Likmetaj Kodra was born on April 22, 1918, in Ishem, a small village in central Albania. After studying science, he attended the Odhise Paskali School of Art in Tirana. In 1938, he won a scholarship provided by the Queen of Albania and fulfilled his dream of studying in Milan at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. The teaching of Carrà, Carpi, and Funi was fundamental for him; they followed him throughout his years at the academy, teaching painting and fresco techniques. In 1942, he won another scholarship, being considered the best student at Brera. The following year, he graduated and participated in the Young Artists Exhibition at the Permanente in Milan. He opened his studio in Milan and joined the group Oltre Guernica, with which he exhibited in a famous collective show on via Brera. In 1947, he met Paul Eluard, and the next year, Pablo Picasso. Both were impressed by the works of the Albanian artist: the former wrote, 'Kodra is the primitive of a new society,' and the latter said, 'Even your signature is a work of art.' Kodra began to exhibit successfully worldwide, from New York to Tokyo, from Palermo to Stuttgart. In 1953, he participated in the international collective at the University of Paris, and in 1954, he exhibited with Picasso, Rouault, Dufy, Matisse, and Modigliani in Chiavari. His works reflect the post-cubist influence of the post-war period and are enriched by the memory of his homeland, a nearby Orient rich in traditions, a meeting of cultures on the Mediterranean. His figures, children of Picasso's harlequins, are set in visionary environments full of light: luminous tesserae reminiscent of Byzantine experiences. His works are housed in museums and private collections, such as the Vatican Museum. He died in Milan on February 7, 2006, and was buried in Albania, as per his last wishes.