Andrea Sampaolo
Miami – Roma – New York
“The essence of Sampaolo’s creativity comprises an intense urge towards colour. Colour is the key player; it has a distinguished, autonomous and mature role of its own, be it scattered on canvas as a sediment, a scar or as an aged spoor. It evokes impressions of ancient walls, of tales long lost. And yet, behind each expressive momentum there is always a disciplined and pondered execution, in which signs and colours are but Life’s natural expressions, pure translations of concepts such as Energy and Time or of sensations, of the vibrations of the heart or the joie de vivre. A world where colour is the essence of life and a tool to the celebration of feelings.” (Loose translation from a text by Massimo Scaringella, curator).
Action painting and Abstract Art, Pop Art and Graffiti Art are key codes to Sampaolo’s Art.
Of Umbrian origin, though born and brought up in Rome, Sampaolo has been deeply involved in art since the late ‘80s. His work can be portrayed in two distinct phases. The earlier, based on a more formal research, of materials and techniques, the latter as a leap into an intense, vital, expressive urge.
In 2010, Sampaolo is in the United States; his work is selected by Poltrona Frau, the Italian icon home furnishing company and exhibited at Poltrona Frau Miami showroom www.art-bit.net/community/blog/insideart- andrea-sampaolo-sua-provocazione).
The event is a first fundamental step in Sampaolo’s career in the United States; his 32 paintings are a homage and a record of the strong bond between his art and the 1950s American Vanguard, Pop Art and New York City Graffiti & Street Art. Hence, the decision to move to Miami permanently and to sign a contract with UNIX Gallery (www.unixgallery.com).
With UNIX, Sampaolo’s works are exhibited at Art Southampton, the most important international modern and contemporary art fair taking place during the Hamptons season in Long Island (July 25-29 2013). The Hamptons collective will lead to a personal exhibition in New York City to be held in December 2013/January 2014. Shortly before this he will be at Art Miami.
There has been growing interest in Sampaolo’s work recently, in Italy, too. In September 2013 Sampaolo, was commissioned a public artwork by the Municipality of Norcia, in Umbria. In January 2014, Italy’s third public television channel will broadcast a documentary monograph dedicated to the artist.
Sampaolo’s artistic evolution is ever expanding; his research transcends the frontiers of pure abstraction, projecting towards visions, shapes and contours marked through colours and short interrupted brushes. His pictorial expression shifts from “grotesque to naïve, to comic art, (with an) almost jelly-like (quality), ghostly and dramatic” (Giovanni BuraliD’Arezzo, anthropologist).
Sampaolo’s eclectic attitude results in painting being just one aspect of his expressive language (more onwww.andreasampaolo.it). Sampaolo’s artistic research is open to contaminations and spans from fashion to design and mass culture in a constant quest for a convergence of languages: thus “Dreaming Stones”, where he uses acrylic resins on Carrara marble and his partnership with Slamp (www.slamp.it) aimed at the production of artistic lamps.
Main Solo Exhibitions
2016 - "Deconstructing the Abstract"Fuori Salone Art Miami Frau Atlantica(Miami) – U.S.A.
2014 - "Re-Life" Fondazione Bertelli Forte dei Marmi (Lucca) – Italy
2013 – “Ghost Dog” Work for Norcia (Perugia) – Italy
2013 - "American Again" Unix Gallery Chelsea (New York) - U.S.A. 2010 - "American" Poltrona Frau (Miami) - U.S.A. 2009 - "Free Zone" (Rome) - Italy 2007 - "Tessendo Colore" Banca Sella (Milan, Bologna, Ascoli Piceno) - Italy 2007 - "Action painting" Galleria D’Arte 3/5 contemporanea (Rieti) - Italy 2002 - "Astratto fermentato InDesign" Grit Art Gallery (Rome) – Italy
Collective Exhibitions
2016 - "ArtRooms 2016" Special Guest Regent’s Park (London) – U.K.
2013 - "Art Southampton" Long Island (New York) - U.S.A.
2012 – “El impulso y la sorpresa del color” Galerìa de Arte Laura Haber (Buenos Aires) - Argentina
2012 - "ArtMiami" Unix Fine Art Gallery (Miami) - U.S.A. 2012 - "Postignano Art Project" Residence di artisti internazionale (PG) - Italy 2012 - "Art Southampton" Unix Fine Art Gallery (New York) - U.S.A. 2012 - "Art Americas" (Miami) - U.S.A. 2010 - "Tessendo colore", Project and tour -Italy 2009 - Kaunas Art Biennial TEXTILE 09 Live Examination” - Lithuania
2008 - “Recycle Art" Simposio World Art Delft - Holland
2008 - “AreaO”, Banca Sella –(Ferrara) - Italy 2008 - “Expo Nice, Espace Art” –(Nice) - France 2007 - “SimposioInternazionale di Pittura” (Maillniz) - Austria
2007 - "Made in Italy", Galleria Am Roten Hof – (Vienna) - Austria
Extras
2013 – "Design Emotion" (Commissioned by Material Connexion- Milan) - Italy
2012 – “Miami Tennis Cup” (Commissioned by Miami Tennis Club - Miami) - U.S.A.
2012 – “Cromatismi sonori ”Salón Auditorio Colegio Champagnat (Performance-Buenos Aires) - Argentina
2011 - "Meridiana Contemporanea" (Commissioned by Poltrona Frau Atlantic – Miami) - U.S.A.
2011 - "American" Poltrona Frau Atlantic (Performance - Miami) - U.S.A. 2010 - “Telamente – In Design ”Studio Le Bain” (Rome) - Italy 2010 - “Cromatismi sonori: Javier Girotto & Andrea Sampaolo”(Performance -Lanificio 159 - Rome) - Italy 2003 - "Wishes come true" (Commissioned by Benetton - Rome) - Italy 2002 - "Scende la scarpa dal muro" Roma-New York Collection collab. Lincoln Design (Grit Art Gallery - Rome) - Italy
Graffiti
2012 - 1ofk – Miami – U.S.A.
2011 – The Winwood Wall– Miami – U.S.A.
Pubblications
Inside Art – Cosmopolitan – Miami News Times – Il Messaggero