Orazi (1906–1979)
Orazi (1906–1979) was a painter of the French School and a member of the New School of Paris. After classical, literary and musical studies, he devoted himself to painting and, from 1934, worked in Montparnasse, at the heart of Paris’s vibrant artistic scene.
A regular exhibitor at major Parisian salons—including the Salon de Mai and the Salon d’Automne—Orazi developed a rich and evolving body of work. Closely associated with Édouard Pignon and the post-war Parisian avant-garde, his style moved from figurative painting to abstraction and relief painting, before returning to figuration in his later years.
From the late 1940s, his dynamic Painting of Movement series—featuring circus figures, dancers, and athletes—gained critical attention and was widely exhibited in France and abroad. Landscape remained a constant focus, particularly in his evocative views of Paris, where he captured the transformation of the city with a distinctive sense of modernity and nostalgia.
Between 1958 and 1968, Orazi explored material and texture in his Relief Painting, demonstrating remarkable technical mastery. In his final periods, his work turned toward imaginative and cosmic themes, notably through his Circular Line series and Imaginary Landscapes.
Orazi’s work has been exhibited internationally throughout his career, with retrospective shows held after his death.
