Enzo Plazzotta

Enzo Plazzotta (1921-1981) was an Italian artist who spent over half his life in London working as a sculptor, establishing himself as a leader in this art form. Born in Mestre, near Venice, he initially studied at the Accademia di Brera in Milan under Messina but his studies were cut short by the Second World War, during which he received the Silver Medal for Valour for his efforts as a volunteer in North Africa. After the fall of Mussolini in 1943, he was actively involved in the struggle for national liberation, helping to form a partisan group in the Italian mountains and subsequently improving relations between the partisans and the Allies. The end of the war allowed Plazzotta to return to Brera to complete his studies. Following his graduation he received a commission from the Italian Committee of Liberation to make a bronze statuette to present to the British Special Forces Club. This commission is what brought him to London, where his interest in the British way of life would encourage him to stay.
The financial strain of having a family to support saw him set up a commercial art agency in London and it was not until the 1960s that he was able to devote his attention towards sculpting. The pieces he created range from accessible, popular works to more personal projects of expression. His favoured subjects include dancing figures, horses and adaptations of classical and Christian themes. The artist maintained a close connection with his home country of Italy and held a studio in Tuscany until his death. In 1976 the Italian government bestowed him the title of Cavaliere for his accomplishments in art.
His work is held in multiple public collections, including the Stanley Picker Gallery at Kingston University, College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane.