AFRO 1912 – 1976 (Afro Libio Basaldella ) ‘Intellectual fashion.’ Afro was an internationally-recognized Italian abstract painter and sculptor. He was a member of the School of Rome and was one of the artists commissioned by the jeweler Mario Masenza, a renowned Roman jeweler, who was the first to invite artists to his workshop to create what he termed ‘intellectual fashion.’ In October 1949, the Jewelry by Masenza exhibition opened in Milan and Afro was among the artists and sculptors invited to create special pieces for this innovative show. Afro’s constantly-evolving jewelry designs were often inspired by ancient Etruscan, Roman, and Hellenistic sculptures, Aztec carvings, and pre-Columbian art. Many of his creations consisted of intertwined precious stones elegantly set in embossed and chiseled gold. By the mid-1950s, Afro had gained international recognition and his art was exhibited in 1961 at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The earrings in this photo were exhibited in the “Italian Metamorphosis” exhibition at the Guggenheim in 1995. @tiffanydubin @fondazioneafro @guggenheim #Masenza#afrobasaldella #guggenheim #tiffanydubin