Antonio Calderara was born in Abbiategrasso on 28 october 1903. In 1923 he has the first solo exhibition and an year later he leave university to fully dedicate to painting. He will start with his first self portraits in 1925 and later will start painting landscapes and city views. In 1933 he will move on the Lake d’Orta and the light and the lake will become his inspirations.

From 1957 the landscapes in his paintings become more and more abstract and geometrical and Antonio Calderara will slowly and progressively move to the abstract paintings. He put great effort in the watercolour tencique as well as in silkscreen printing, the only two techniques that permitted him to produce so rarified colours.

He participated to the Documenta in Kassel, Venice Biennale and his works are in Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, in Pinakotek der Moderne in Munich, in Kunstmuseum in Winterthur and in many other important museums in the world. He passes away in Vacciago on 27 june 1978.