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Key Takeaways

Mimmo Paladino is a leading figure in the Transvanguardia movement, which emerged in Italy during the late 1970s through the 1980s.
The Transvanguardia movement is characterized by a return to figurative art and emotion.
Paladino's work often combines modern technology with primitive tools, showcasing a multidimensional approach.
The average price of his limited edition prints ranges from EUR 1,200 to EUR 4,500.
Paladino's contributions to contemporary art have been widely recognized, particularly in the realm of sculpture, painting, and printmaking.
The Transvanguardia movement has had a lasting impact on the art world, influencing the Neo-Expressionist movement that emerged in the early 1980s.

Mimmo Paladino, born on December 18, 1948, in Paduli, Italy, is a renowned sculptor, painter, and printmaker. He is a prominent figure in the Transavanguardia art movement and played a significant role in the revival of Expressionism in Europe during the 1980s.

A Journey Through Art and Innovation

Mimmo Paladino, born on December 18, 1948, in Paduli, Campania, Italy, spent his formative years in Benevento, where he also pursued his artistic education at the Liceo Artistico di Benevento from 1964 to 1968. His passion for art was ignited during a school trip to the 32nd Venice Biennale in 1964, where he encountered American Pop Art at the U.S. Pavilion—an experience that left a lasting impression on the young artist.

Paladino's artistic career officially began in 1968 with his first solo exhibition at the Galleria Carolina in Portici, Naples. The show was introduced by Achille Bonito Oliva, who continued to support Paladino’s early work, including his following exhibition at Enzo Cannaviello's Studio Oggetto in Caserta. Throughout the early 1970s, Paladino explored conceptual art and photography before shifting his focus back to painting. His 1975 manifesto work, Silently, I Am Retiring to Paint a Picture, symbolized his commitment to restoring painting as a primary means of storytelling, diverging from the conceptual trends that had dominated post-war Italian art.

In the late 1970s, Paladino relocated to Milan, where he balanced teaching art with his evolving practice. This period marked significant collaborations, beginning in 1977 with the Naples-based gallerist Lucio Amelio, followed by his partnership with Emilio Mazzoli in Modena. His first book-object, En-De-Re, was created in 1980, the same year he held his first solo exhibitions in New York at the galleries of Maria Goodman and Annina Nosei.

Paladino's international presence grew as his work, alongside fellow Italian artists such as Sandro Chia, Francesco Clemente, Sandro Cucchi, and Nicola De Maria, was showcased in a traveling exhibition across major European museums. The 39th Venice Biennale in 1980 further cemented his role in the Transavanguardia movement, curated by Harald Szeemann and Achille Bonito Oliva. This period of Italian Neo-Expressionism, characterized by its return to figurative art and emotive expression, found Paladino at its forefront.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Paladino’s practice expanded into sculpture and engraving while maintaining a fundamentally pictorial approach. His first major sculptural work, Closed Garden (1983), now housed at Castello di Rivoli, exemplified his ability to merge painting techniques with three-dimensional forms. In 1988, Giovanni Carandente selected Paladino to exhibit at the Italian Pavilion during the 43rd Venice Biennale, where his spatially immersive installations drew critical acclaim.

Paladino’s work often bridges architecture, sculpture, and the environment, as seen in Hortus Conclusus (1992) in Benevento, where he transformed a garden into a symbolic, meditative space. Similarly, The Mountain of Salt (1990), a monumental installation first erected in Gibellina and later displayed in Naples and Milan, became a signature piece reflecting his experimental spirit.

The 1990s and 2000s saw Paladino embracing large-scale projects and multimedia explorations. His ventures into film began with Quijote (2006), a short feature inspired by Cervantes’ classic, showcased at the Venice Film Festival. His love for literature and music frequently intersected with his art, leading to collaborations with notable figures like composer Brian Eno and conductor Riccardo Muti.

In 2013, Paladino created a monumental installation in Piazza Santa Croce, Florence, using marble and bronze to design an interactive cross-shaped structure. His ability to transform public spaces into dynamic works of art was further highlighted by his participation in the 55th Venice Biennale in 2015.

Recognized internationally, Paladino was inducted as an honorary member of London’s Royal Academy of Arts in 1999. His works reside in prestigious collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Mimmo Paladino is married to Imma, with whom he has a daughter and three grandchildren. He divides his time between Rome, Milan, and Paduli, while maintaining a studio near Benevento, where his artistic journey first began.

A Chronological Journey Through Art and Innovation

1948

Born on December 18 in Paduli, near Benevento, east of Naples.

1964

Visits the Venice Biennale, where Robert Rauschenberg's work at the American Pavilion deeply influences him, revealing what he described as the "reality of art."

1968

Graduates from the Liceo Artistico di Benevento.
Holds his first solo exhibition at Galleria Carolina in Portici, Naples.
Begins exploring photo-based imagery and conceptual art but soon realizes his desire to create more expressive and image-driven works.

1969

Hosts a solo exhibition at Enzo Cannaviello's Studio Oggetto in Caserta.

1973

Starts experimenting with mixed media, developing a complex visual language that merges diverse cultural messages.

1977

Paints Silence, I Am Retiring to Paint a Picture, marking a pivotal return to painting, in contrast to the avant-garde trends of the time.
Exhibits a large tempera mural at Galleria Lucio Amelio in Naples.
Relocates to Milan.

1978

Makes his first trip to New York.

1980

Invited by art critic Achille Bonito Oliva to exhibit in the "Aperto" section of the Venice Biennale alongside Sandro Chia, Francesco Clemente, Enzo Cucchi, and Nicola De Maria.
Publishes the book-object EN DE RE in collaboration with Bonito Oliva.
Begins working with various printmaking techniques, including etching and aquatint.

1981

Participates in A New Spirit in Painting at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, which later travels to Berlin as Zeitgeist.
A major solo exhibition of his drawings is organized by the Kunstmuseum in Basel and tours multiple European cities.
Collaborates for the first time with the New York printmakers Harlan & Weaver.

1982

Participates in both the Sydney Biennale and Documenta 7 in Kassel.
Creates his first bronze sculpture, Giardino chiuso.
Visits Brazil, where his father resides, for the first time.

1984

Constructs a house and studio in Paduli and divides his time between there and Milan.
Exhibits at the Newport Harbor Museum as part of Il Modo Italiano, showcasing contemporary Italian art in Los Angeles.

1985

Holds his first major retrospective at the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich.
Creates Pietre, a series of white stone standing figures.

1988

Showcases a monumental sculptural installation in the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, combining graphic symbols and bronze figures.

1989

Designs a limited-edition Swatch watch, seeing it as "a humorous vanitas" reflecting the passage of time.

1990

Creates a large-scale set design for the open-air opera La sposa di Messina in Gibellina, featuring a 15-meter-high mountain of salt and charred wooden horses.

1991

Exhibits in Prague’s Belvedere with a series of works inspired by the city's history.
Completes Il respiro della bellezza, a cycle of twelve paintings on wood, emphasizing the canvas as a living organism.

1992

Opens Hortus Conclusus, a permanent sculptural installation at the Chiostro di San Domenico in Benevento.
A major print retrospective is held at the Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea in Trento.

1993

Paints a series of seven works in response to the Sicilian Mafia assassinations, later covering them in limestone as a symbolic burial.
Holds a solo exhibition at Forte Belvedere in Florence.

1994

Becomes the first contemporary Italian artist to exhibit in Beijing.
Publishes Ulysses, 16 June 1904, a series of etchings inspired by James Joyce.

1995–1996

Presents a major exhibition in Naples across three venues, including the reconstruction of Montagna di sale in Piazza del Plebiscito, which becomes a provocative landmark.

1998

Publishes Film, a collection of 32 drawings.

1999

A significant exhibition at South London Gallery features his Testimoni sculptures and the Zenith series.
Installs I Dormienti in London’s Roundhouse, accompanied by a score from Brian Eno.
Made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

2000

Wins the UBU Prize for his set design for Oedipus Rex at Teatro Argentina, Rome.

2001

Illustrates Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.
Publishes a catalogue raisonné of his graphic works (1974–2001).

2002–2003

A major retrospective is held at the Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato.
Participates in Transavanguardia 1979–1985 at Castello Di Rivoli.

2003

Installs Zenith at the European Parliament headquarters.

2004–2005

Collaborates with Sol Lewitt for a Rome exhibition.
Hosts a solo exhibition in the Terrae Motus collection at Reggia di Caserta.
A touring Pinocchio exhibition travels across six Japanese cities.

2005

Mimmo Paladino in Scena opens in Ravenna.
His work Zenith is displayed at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.
A Don Quixote-themed exhibition opens at the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples.

2006

Redesigns the Piazza dei Guidi for the Museo Leonardiano in Vinci.
Exhibits Porta con Figura at the New Art Centre in Salisbury.

2009

Publishes Paladino: Sculpture 1980–2008 with Skira.

2011

Reconstructs Montagna del Sale in Piazza del Duomo, Milan, celebrating the unification of Italy.

2013

Participates in the Ravello Festival with a summer exhibition.

2015

Returns to the Venice Biennale with a large-scale installation.

2016

Hosts a retrospective at Galleria Christian Stein in Milan and presents Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, USA.

Current

Mimmo Paladino continues to live and work between Milan, Rome, and Paduli, maintaining a vibrant presence in the contemporary art world.

FAQ

Who is Mimmo Paladino?

Mimmo Paladino is a renowned Italian artist. He works in sculpture, painting, and printmaking. He's a key figure in the Transvanguardia movement, a late 20th-century art revival.

What is the Transvanguardia movement?

The Transvanguardia movement rejected conceptualism. It brought back figurative art, focusing on emotions and bold colors. Paladino played a big role in this movement.

What is Paladino's artistic style and technique?

Paladino experiments with different media. His work stands out for its unique materials, colors, and forms. This reflects his background in graphic design and his connection to the Transvanguardia movement.

What are some of Paladino's most significant works?

Paladino has made many notable sculptures and public installations. His paintings are famous for their vibrant colors and emotional depth.

How has Paladino influenced contemporary art?

Paladino has greatly influenced contemporary art. His bold approach and unique vision have inspired many artists. He has helped evolve figurative art.

What recognition has Paladino received?

Paladino has gained international acclaim. He has had many museum exhibitions and gallery shows. Critics and fans alike celebrate his lasting impact on the art world.

What is the significance of Paladino's artistic philosophy?

Paladino's artistic philosophy is rooted in the Transvanguardia movement. It shapes his creative process and makes his work unique. His approach continues to inspire artists and audiences today.

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Mimmo Paladino: A Journey Through Art and Innovation