Francesco Clemente

The conclusion of the 1970s marked a shift in visual arts, and Francesco Clemente played a key role in this transformation. His unique collection represents a return to painting and a departure from conceptual art. Through Neo-Expressionist methods, Clemente imbues figuration with fresh significance, exploring contemporary themes of human turmoil.

Biography of Francesco Clemente

Francesco Clemente, born in 1952 in Naples, grew up in an aristocratic yet modest family against the backdrop of the aftermath of World War II and fascism. He pursued architecture at the University of Rome, experiencing a profound existential crisis during his studies.

In 1973, he relocated to India, where he collaborated with local craftsmen and artists, deeply influenced by the culture. Over time, Clemente divided his time between New York and Varanasi, India, embracing the Indian philosophical concept of anatman (no-self), which suggests that our perceived human identity is merely a hollow mask.

The artist became deeply immersed in the zeitgeist of his time, particularly drawn to the pacifist movement and the burgeoning fascination with Eastern philosophy.  He integrated his interests in literature, music, and film with philosophical concepts and symbols from diverse cultures, such as Hindu spiritualism in India, Tarot, and the Candomble religion of Brazil. 

During his tenure in New York, Clemente merged with prominent painters such as Basquiat and Warhol. Specifically, in 1984, he engaged in a series of compelling collaborations with Warhol at Warhol's renowned studio, the Factory. Additionally, Clemente collaborated with poet Allen Ginsberg on a series of Bookworks in 1983 and later teamed up with poet Robert Creeley on several larger paintings in 1997. These exchanges of ideas with fellow artists aligned with his beliefs and worldview centered around the common good.

Clemente's works have been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Notably, in 1998, Clemente's art appeared in the Hollywood film "Great Expectations," and since the 1980s, he has captured New York's intellectual and social milieu through a multitude of portraits. Despite the passage of time, Clemente's artistic practice transcends the mere amalgamation of classical composition and timeless references to ancient mythologies; it serves as a focused examination of identity, sexuality, and human relationships, thereby remaining relevant to contemporary discourse.

Francesco Clemente's Art Style

With a keen interest in the psychological intricacies of human existence, Francesco Clemente's artistic evolution followed a non-linear trajectory characterized by expansion and contraction in a fragmentary manner, not confined by a singular style but rather reflective of the flux of the self. While some may perceive his work as purely aesthetic or focused solely on spirituality and the depths of the human psyche, it carries a potent political charge and reflects an anti-materialistic stance.

Transitioning from photography to drawing in the 1970s, Clemente foreshadowed the resurgence of painting in the 1980s with New Expressionism. The 1990s witnessed a heightened exploration of erotic imagery, drawing inspiration from Tantra traditions alongside contemporary preoccupations of identity and sexuality. In the 2000s, Clemente delved into a darker and more grotesque phase, only to return in recent years to luminous depictions of repose and transformation.