Italo Scanga (1932–2001) was born in Italy, but he moved to the United States when he was a teenager. His Italian heritage continued to deeply influence his work, especially in subject matter. Statues, ancient pottery, cypress trees, and lush Italian landscapes abound in his pieces, along with a strong use of color and shimmering light effects. Scanga’s major solo exhibitions have appeared in museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Fine Art in Boston and the Museo Rufino Tamayo in Mexico City. His work is also included in many permanent collections of renowned institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Walker Art Center. He received his BA and MA from Michigan State University and worked in Southern California until the end of his life.