Walter Lazzaro was born in Rome on 12th May, 1914.
After compulsory schooling, he attended the Art School and the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and won a government awarded scholarship, having being chosen from all art students in Rome, in the academic years of 1929- 1932.
In 1937, he was given an award by the Royal Academy of Italy.
In 1942, he was awarded the XXIII International Art Biennale of Venice award. Following that, he broke from his painting, working intensively for theatre and film. He was chosen by Enrico Guazzoni to interpret the character Raphael, in the film “La Fornarina” starring Lida Baarova and Annelise Uhlig.
In 1943, he was Lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards. He was taken prisoner in Albania and interned in a German prison camp at Podaska Biala, Poland, where he remained until the war ended. On his return to Italy, he carried on his painting and was invited to numerous editions of the Quadrennial of Art in Rome.
From 1950 onwards, he was the art expert for the Court of Rome. His work became increasingly appreciated and this is exemplified by the numerous personal exhibitions held in Italy and abroad.
In 1956 he founded the Poet- Painter Movement that was joined by numerous important and major artists of the time.
Moreover, from 1935, he taught as Painting lecturer in the Artistic Lyceum as well as the Fine Arts Academy of Rome, then in Carrara, Bologna and Milan-Brera. He also founded and directed the Art School of Novara.
In 1962, and together with Carrà, Ropes, Drive, Ordavo and Pieraccini, he gave life to the Art Week of Versilia- later named the Marguttiana- in Forte dei Marmi, near Lugano. The event is still held today.
In 1972, he was awarded the title of Chevalier for his artistic merit, proposed by the then Minister of Education, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. In 1980, he was also awarded the honoured title of “Officer of Merit of the Republic”, but returned it to the then President Pertini in protest of his not being able to continue teaching after reaching retirement age. He died in Milan, in the aftermath of a traffic accident on March 3, 1989.
Exhibitions
1932
Palazzo Torlonia – Roma
1934-1935
Palazzo Torlonia – Roma
1937-1938
Palazzo Torlonia – Roma
1939
III Quadriennale Nazionale d’Arte – Roma
1942
XXIII Biennale Internazionale d’Arte Padiglione del Regio Esercito – Venezia
1943
IV Quadriennale Nazionale d’Arte – Roma
Teatro Savoia – Tirana (ALBANIA)
1947-1948
Rassegna Nazionale di Arti Figurative, Quadriennale – Roma
Galleria d’Arte Moderna – Valle Giulia
1951
Galleria Fiorani – Roma
Salone del Palazzo sociale del Valentino 107° esposizione Quadriennale – Torino
1952
Galleria Gussoni – Milano
Galleria San Marco – Roma
1953
Galleria Gussoni – Milano
Esposizione d’Arte Internazionale: La pittura nel piccolo formato – Roma
Galleria Blu di Prussia – Napoli
1954
Galleria Salvetti – Milano
Galleria Del Cammino – Roma
Museo Internazionale della Magna Grecia – Reggio Calabria
1955
Galleria La Fontanella – Roma
1956
Galleria Santa Trinità – Firenze
1957
Galleria Campana – Milano
Galleria Martina – Torino
Galleria La Rotonda – Bergamo
Galleria La Capannina – Roma
1958
Istituto Antonelli – Cortina D’Ampezzo
I Rassegna di Arti Figurative – Roma
Galleria Russo – Roma
1959
Galleria Pro Padova – Padova
VIII Quadriennale d’Arte
1960
Galleria La Cornice – Verona
Galleria Bacchiglione – Vicenza
Circolo Artistico – Cortina d’Ampezzo
1961
Galleria San Fedele – Milano
Galleria Il Traguardo – Forte dei Marmi
1962
Tea Room del Bar Elite – Lugano (SVIZZERA)
1963
Galleria di Piazza Domenicani – Bolzano
Galerie Budreke – Zurigo (SVIZZERA)
1964
Galleria d’Arte del Palazzo Esposizioni – Roma
Galleria Bolzani – Milano
1965
Galleria d’Urso – Roma
IX Quadriennale Nazionale d’Arte – Roma
V Rassegna di Arti Figurative - Roma
Galleria Anthea – Roma
Academia Tiberina – Roma
1967
Italian Art Gallery Estro – Toronto
Galleria La Paolina – Roma
1968
VI Mostra di Arti Figurative – Roma
Galleria La Sula – Roma
Galleria La Saletta – Mantova
Galleria La Caravella – Como
1969
Galleria d’Arte dell’Università Popolare Il Sigillo – Padova
Galleria Bessi – Carrara
Galleria La Tavolozza – Roma
1970
Palazzo Pretorio – Sansepolcro
VIII Mostra di Arti Figurative Cineforum romano – Roma
1971
Galleria San Michele – Brescia
Galleria La Cruna – Novara
1972
Galleria Il Collezionista – Bologna
Galleria d’Arte Modena Il Castello – Milano
Galleria Arte Club – Genova
1973
Galleria Montenapoleone – Milano
Circolo Artistico – Bologna
1974
Galleria Missori – Milano
1981
The New Gallery – Milano
1982
Teatro Mancinelli – Orvieto
1983
New Core Art Museum – Seul (COREA)
1984
Galleria Russo – Roma
1988
Galleria Capricorno – Vigevano
