© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation
"I believe in the collective imagination shared by different contemplative traditions. My goal is to bring together images and references from these traditions and link them to current emotions and common experiences."
Francesco Clemente is an Italian artist and a leading figure in the neo-expressionist movement. Whether he uses painting, installation, or works on paper, his work is characterized by an interest in representations of the human body. Clemente's unique style combines the tradition of Indian imagery, the romanticism of William Blake, and frescoes of the Italian Renaissance to create evocative and powerful works with a voluptuous palette.