Umberto Boccioni was an influential Italian painter and sculptor, born on October 19, 1882, in Reggio Calabria. He is best known for his role in the Futurism movement, which celebrated modern technology, speed, and dynamic movement. Boccioni's works often depicted the energy of urban life and the impact of industrialization on society. His most famous pieces include the painting The City Rises and the sculpture Unique Forms of Continuity in Space. Boccioni's innovative approach to form and color helped shape modern art, and he played a crucial role in promoting the ideas of Futurism until his untimely death in 1916.