FRANCESCO CLEMENTE
Francesco Clemente is a contemporary Italian and American artist known for his spiritual paintings based on esoteric themes. One of the most recognized figures of the Neo-Expressionist movement of the 1970s and 80s, he works across a variety of mediums including oil painting, installation, textiles, and watercolor. Clemente’s works are characterized by their formal experimentation with symbols, portraiture, and the human figure. His exhibition highlights include a retrospective at the Guggenheim and a current solo exhibition at the Brandt Foundation. His work is held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Tate Gallery in London, among others. Francesco Clemente is represented by Mary Boone Gallery.
Wishing Stars, 2019 - Rich in both material and thought, Clemente considers his installation as an offering of stillness in the heart of movement. His hanging tapestry, hand painted with natural dyes, stitched with embroidery and layered applique, frame the wall. Centering the niche lies a wooden pine bench, brushed with milk paint, providing a contemplative space. When asked how Clemente feels about sharing his work in this particular locale, he playfully said: “The audience of art is an audience of one. I hope he or she will pass by.”