Alberto Giacometti (1901–66) was a Swiss sculptor, painter, draftsman, and printmaker whose pioneering approach to form and space established him as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His work explores themes of existentialism, isolation, and the human condition. Initially influenced by Surrealism and Cubism, by 1935 Giacometti was developing a distinct and personal style focused on the human figure and its relationship to space. Relentless self-scrutiny, Giacometti posited, was driven by a desire to capture the "truth" of the human condition. This pursuit often left Giacometti dissatisfied with his own work, regardless of the acclaim or recognition it received. Between 1938 and 1944, Giacometti never made a sculpture that measured more than 2 ¾ in. (< 7 cm.) in height. He explained, “Wanting to create from memory what I had seen, to my terror the sculptures became smaller and smaller." He began creating his iconic elongated sculptures in the late 1940s. Often cast in bronze, these figures seem to stretch and dissolve into the surrounding space, creating an ethereal, haunting effect. They are prized for their dynamic compositions, emotional intensity, and mastery of scale and proportion. Although Giacometti is best known for his sculptures, his paintings, which are often underappreciated in comparison, offer critical insight into his artistic process and his quest to capture the emotional and existential reality of human life. 

Giacometti’s work has appeared in exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York; Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York; Tate Gallery, London, England; Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France; Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; Menil Collection, Houston, Texas; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, among others. Public and private collections holding his work include the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York; Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois; Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France; Tate Modern, London, England; Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California; Menil Collection, Houston, Texas; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York; Musée Rodin, Paris, France; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Netherlands; Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC.

Giacometti’s work has been presented at GRAY in a number of exhibitions, including Modern and Contemporary Masters, 1992; Forty Years, 2003; Modern and Contemporary Sculpture, 2010; Muse Exploring Inspiration, 2012; Fun House, 2013; and GRAY at 60, 2023.