Alessandro Papetti

Born in Milan, where he continues to live and work today, Alessandro Papetti is one of Italy’s foremost contemporary painters. He has exhibited widely for almost 30 years, notably at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and 2011, at major museums in Milan, Paris, Moscow, and Tokyo, and at galleries around the world.

A largely self-taught artist, Papetti’s most recognizable works are sweeping, cinematic paintings focused on industrial archaeology, urban landscapes, portraits and nude studies, frequently painted from a high-angle perspective. Milan has served as an important backdrop for his work: I tend to use monochromatic colours. The light in my cities is fairly northern because I was born in Milan and that definitely had an influence. These are the colours from my city, from the air that I’ve breathed.

Submitted by Everard Read