Flory Italianer

Flory Italianer (1938–2009) was a Dutch sculptor and artist best known for her expressive depictions of the human body. From her early passion for drawing in pen and ink, she developed into a versatile artist at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. She soon found her true calling in sculpture, where the human nude and human expression took centre stage.

Her artistic convictions were further shaped by her encounter with sculptor Karel Gomes. She worked for years in his studio on a houseboat, making sketches during musical sessions, and her sculptural signature developed.

Italianer worked for many years in Amsterdam and later in Bergen (North Holland), where she had her studio. Her sculptures, often in bronze or other durable materials, depict the vitality and vulnerability of humankind. She drew inspiration from classical forms, yet always gave them a contemporary and personal interpretation. Over the years, Italianer maintained her fascination with the human body: “people, naked” provided a continued source of inspiration.