Represented artist
Francesco De Grandi
Palermo, Italy, 1968. Based in Palermo
Statement
Francesco De Grandi finds in the archetypal motifs of the history of painting a path of knowledge and a way to spiritual elevation, in an almost meditative form of painting.
Narrative, figurative, romantic, evocative, De Grandi's painting, between the study of nature and the feeling of the sacred, highlights the mature awareness of a painting in continuous dialogue with tradition, but which allows itself to be penetrated by contemporary tremors, resulting in an iconographic revisitation where everything is mixed and sometimes overturned.
A tribute to the immense human audience that inhabits the stage of the world every day, from mythological tales to the crude current chronicle.
A graduate of the Palermo Academy of Fine Arts, he moved to Milan in 1994, where he remained until 2008. He was based in Shanghai from 2009 to 2012 before deciding to return to Palermo, which has proven the most fitting place to continue his practice. From 1992 onward he has participated in group and solo exhibitions in public spaces, museums and private galleries in Italy and abroad.
He has been among the artists represented by RizzutoGallery since 2015. He lives and works in Palermo, where he teaches Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Recent solo exhibitions include: Il sacrificio del miele, Galleria Civica di Trento, 2024; Nella debolezza, dalle tenebre alla luce - Crocifissione di Urbino, Chiesa di San Francesco, Urbino, 2023. Vago Fiore, Ex Chiesa degli Almadiani, Viterbo, 2020. Aurea Hora, Fondazione Sicilia Pinacoteca di Villa Zito, Palermo, 2019; Come Creatura, RizzutoGallery, Manifesta 12 CollateralEvent, Palermo, 2018; FragmentedesUnbekennten, GartenpavillonMalkasten, Dusseldorf, 2016; Archetipi della pittura inquieta, Convento del Carmine, Marsala, 2014; Il Passaggio Difficile, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palermo, 2011.
Among his group exhibitions: Giorni Felici? quello che accade, quello che può accadere, Fondazione Merz, ZACentrale, Palermo; Giovanni Bellini, Il Compianto dai Musei Vaticani, Museo Diocesano Carlo Maria Martini di Milano; interACTION NAPOLI 2024, Made in Cloister Foundation; Pittura italiana oggi, Triennale di Milano; Artificialia et Mirabilia,Villa d’Este, Tivoli; Medea, Antico Mercato di Siracusa, 2023; Camera Picta, Galleria Civica, Castello del Buonconsiglio, Mart, Trento, 2021; Foresta Urbana, Museo Riso Palermo, 2019; La Scuola di Palermo, Museo Riso Palermo, 2018, 54° Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione Italia, Corderie dell’Arsenale, Venezia.
His works are found in private and public Collections including: Palazzo Riso, Museo Regionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Palermo; Collezione Farnesina Experimenta, istituita dal Ministero degli Esteri, Palazzo della Farnesina, Roma; Musei Villa Adriana e Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Roma; HangART7, Red Bull Hangar collection, Salisburgo – Austria; Museo Civico, Pinacoteca Comunale, Marsala, Trapani; Museo Civico di Castelbuono, Castelbuono, Palermo; Museo del Novecento, Collezione Bertolini, Milano; Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palermo; Galleria Comunale d’Arte Contemporanea di Monfalcone, Gorizia; Museo d’arte contemporanea Collegio dei Gesuiti, Alcamo, Trapani; Museo d’arte Moderna e Contemporanea Repubblica di San Marino.
Installation views
Narrativa, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2023
Il sacrificio del miele, Galleria Civica di Trento, Trento - Italy - 2024
Santi, Sirene, Briganti e Baccanali, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2025
Il sacrificio del miele, Galleria Civica di Trento, Trento - Italy - 2024
Giorni Felici? quello che accade, quello che può accadere, Fondazione Merz, ZACentrale, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo - Italy - 2024
Come Creatura, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - Manifesta 12 Collateral Event, 2018
LAGUNA, bi-personal with Katharina Maderthaner, RizzutoGallery, Düsseldorf - Germany - 2024
Aurea Hora, #Incursioni contemporanee 5, Villa Zito, Palermo - Italy - 2019
Aurea Hora, #Incursioni contemporanee 5, Villa Zito, Palermo - Italy - 2019
Aurea Hora, #Incursioni contemporanee 5, Villa Zito, Palermo - Italy - 2019
Interieur, bi-personal with Andreas Thein, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2014Works
Oil on canvas
150 × 180 cm
Oil on canvas
150 × 180 cm
Oil on canvas
150 × 180 cm
Oil on canvas
170 × 250 cm
Oil on canvas
90 × 120 cm
Oil on canvas
90 × 150 cm
Oil on canvas
45 × 60 cm
Oil on canvas
45 × 60 cm
Oil on canvas
190 × 280 × 3 cm
Oil on canvas
170 × 250 cm
Oil on canvas
150 × 90 cm
Oil on canvas
24 × 18 cm
Oil on canvas
24 × 18 cm
Oil on canvas
45 × 60 cm
Oil on canvas
150 × 150 cm
Oil on canvas
230 × 340 cm
Oil on canvas
18 × 24 cm
Oil on canvas
300 × 190 cm
Oil on canvas
230 × 340 cm
Wood, iron, paper, plastic, UV lights, phosphorescent paint, lens
165 × 50 cm
Oil on canvas
150 × 125 cm
Exhibitions
- DüsseldorfHierophanie - il conflitto, il sacro, la natura.Francesco De Grandi14 November 2025 – 14 February 2026
- PalermoSANTI, SIRENE, BRIGANTI E BACCANALIMattia Barbieri, Francesco De Grandi, Daniele Franzella, Luigi Presicce22 March – 28 June 2025
- DüsseldorfLAGUNAFrancesco De Grandi, Katharina Maderthaner30 August – 28 September 2024
- PalermoNARRATIVAFrancesco De Grandi12 December 2023 – 24 February 2024
- PalermoSexophiliaFrancesco De Grandi, Daniele Franzella14 February – 3 April 2021
- PalermoCome CreaturaFrancesco De Grandi15 September – 4 November 2018
- Palermoquantum leapAntonio Catelani, Francesco De Grandi, Jáchym Fleig, Katharina Maderthaner and 4 more18 March – 11 June 2017
- PalermosostaOystein Aasan, Giuseppe Adamo, Antonio Catelani, Francesco De Grandi and 6 more16 July – 28 August 2016
- PalermoINTERIEURFrancesco De Grandi, Andreas Thein13 November – 13 December 2014
News
- 13 June 2026ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi: Salon Kitty at The Drawing Hall, GrassobbioSalon Kitty, a solo exhibition of drawings by Francesco De Grandi, is on view at The Drawing Hall in Grassobbio (Bergamo) from 13 June to 11 July 2026.The Drawing Hall, Grassobbio (Bergamo)
- 24 May 2026ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi in Mystica Visio. San Francesco, Jacopone e le arti, TodiFrancesco De Grandi is among the 31 artists of Mystica Visio. San Francesco, Jacopone e le arti, which opened in Todi on 24 May 2026.Sala delle Pietre dei Palazzi Comunali, Museo Civico di Todi, Chiesa di San Fortunato, Todi (Perugia)
- 13 May 2026TalkFrancesca Polizzi and Francesco De Grandi in the doctoral seminar Poetica dei materiali at the Accademia di Belle Arti di PalermoOn 13 May 2026 a doctoral seminar in Palermo examined material and language in the practices of Antonella Genuardi and Francesca Polizzi.Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo, Palazzo Fernandez, Palermo
- 9 April 2026FairRizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2026RizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2026 with Daniele Franzella, Francesco De Grandi, Richard Deacon and Katharina Maderthaner.Art Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- 14 March 2026Curatorial projectYoungVolcano 8 at RizzutoGallery: a selection conceived by Marcello Buffa, Francesco De Grandi and Daniele FranzellaDaniele Franzella is one of the three professors behind the selection of YoungVolcano 8, at RizzutoGallery, Palermo, from 14 March to 18 April 2026.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 5 February 2026FairRizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2026RizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2026 with Daniele Franzella, Mattia Barbieri, Richard Deacon, Francesco De Grandi, Luigi Presicce and Lucio Pozzi.Arte Fiera, Bologna
- 2 February 2026TalkFrancesco De Grandi chairs two sessions of I seminari del XL ciclo at the Accademia di Belle Arti di PalermoFrom 2 to 4 February 2026 Francesco De Grandi chairs two sessions of the doctoral seminars at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo.Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo, Palermo
- 16 January 2026ExhibitionDaniele Franzella in Generazione Sicilia: collezione Elenk'art at MAC, GibellinaDaniele Franzella is among the artists of Generazione Sicilia: collezione Elenk'art at MAC \"Ludovico Corrao\", Gibellina, until 10 May 2026.MAC – Museo d'Arte Contemporanea "Ludovico Corrao, Gibellina
- 23 December 2025ExhibitionAntonio Catelani, Daniele Franzella, Francesca Polizzi, Francesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri, Katharina Maderthaner, Lucio Pozzi, Luigi Presicce, Marcello Buffa, Linda Carrara, Anna Capolupo, Andrea Di Marco, Richard Deacon, Tania Giordano, Pietro Leone, Gabriele Massaro and Cosimo Rizzuto in Gallery Party 2025 at RizzutoGallery, PalermoLucio Pozzi shows the painting Liminal pass (2017) in Gallery Party 2025, at RizzutoGallery in Palermo from 23 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 14 November 2025ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi: Hierophanie. Il conflitto, il sacro, la natura at RizzutoGallery, DüsseldorfRizzutoGallery Düsseldorf presents Hierophanie. Il conflitto, il sacro, la natura, a solo show by Francesco De Grandi, 14 November 2025 – 14 February 2026.RizzutoGallery, Düsseldorf
- 10 August 2025Public commissionFrancesco De Grandi's Drappellone for the Palio di Siena unveiled at Palazzo PubblicoThe Drappellone painted by Francesco De Grandi for the Palio di Siena of 16 August 2025 was unveiled in the Cortile del Podestà on 10 August.Cortile del Podestà, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena
- 27 June 2025ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi in Spazio Umano, the first exhibition of Fondazione RIV in PalermoFrancesco De Grandi is one of the twelve artists of Spazio Umano, Fondazione RIV's first exhibition, at the Church of San Mamiliano in Palermo.Chiesa di San Mamiliano, Palermo
- 12 April 2025ExhibitionAntonio Catelani, Francesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri and Luigi Presicce in Per Grazia Ricevuta at the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro, NaplesFrancesco De Grandi is among the 120 artists of Per Grazia Ricevuta – Visioni contemporanee dell'Ex Voto, in Naples from 12 April to 30 September 2025.Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro, Naples
- 10 April 2025FairRizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2025RizzutoGallery at Art Düsseldorf 2025 with Daniele Franzella, Francesco De Grandi, Katharina Maderthaner and Francesca Polizzi.Art Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- 7 April 2025PublicationFrancesco De Grandi is the cover artist of EspoarteThe magazine Espoarte dedicates the cover of issue 129 (second quarter of 2025) to Francesco De Grandi, with the interview La pittura è un destino.
- 22 March 2025ExhibitionDaniele Franzella, Mattia Barbieri, Francesco De Grandi and Luigi Presicce in SANTI, SIRENE, BRIGANTI E BACCANALI at RizzutoGallery, PalermoMattia Barbieri, Francesco De Grandi, Daniele Franzella and Luigi Presicce in a four-artist show at RizzutoGallery, Palermo, 22 March – 28 June 2025.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 6 February 2025FairRizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2025RizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2025 with Daniele Franzella, Mattia Barbieri, Francesco De Grandi and Luigi Presicce.Arte Fiera, Bologna
- 4 February 2025Public commissionFrancesco De Grandi commissioned to paint the Drappellone for the Palio di Siena of 16 August 2025On 4 February 2025 the Giunta Comunale of Siena commissioned Francesco De Grandi to paint the Drappellone for the Palio of 16 August 2025.Comune di Siena, Siena
- 28 January 2025ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri and Luigi Presicce in Intorno alla Stella at Nashira Gallery, MilanFrancesco De Grandi takes part in Intorno alla Stella, the exhibition for six years of the Simposio di Pittura, at Nashira Gallery, Milan, until 15 March 2025.Nashira Gallery, Milan
- 19 December 2024TalkFrancesco De Grandi among the speakers of Incontri d'autore for the 50 years of Guttuso's La Vucciria, PalermoOn 19 December 2024 Francesco De Grandi speaks at Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri in Palermo during the events for the 50 years of Guttuso's La Vucciria.Sala Vucciria, Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri, Palermo
- 23 November 2024ExhibitionDaniele Franzella, Francesco De Grandi, Francesca Polizzi and Luigi Presicce in Pinakothek'A at Palazzo Sant'Elia, PalermoA work by Luigi Presicce is included in Pinakothek'A, the exhibition of the Elenk'Art collection at Palazzo Sant'Elia, Palermo, from 23 November 2024.Fondazione Sant'Elia, Palazzo Sant'Elia, Palermo
- 26 October 2024ExhibitionDaniele Franzella, Francesco De Grandi and Francesca Polizzi in ELF – Le mostre di Düsseldorf at Haus der Kunst, PalermoDaniele Franzella is one of eleven artists in ELF – Le mostre di Düsseldorf, Haus der Kunst, Palermo, 26 October – 7 December 2024.Haus der Kunst, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo
- 26 October 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi. Il sacrificio del miele at the Galleria Civica di TrentoThe Mart presents Francesco De Grandi. Il sacrificio del miele at the Galleria Civica di Trento, from 26 October 2024 to 9 February 2025.Galleria Civica di Trento (Mart), Trento
- 30 August 2024ExhibitionLAGUNA: Francesco De Grandi and Katharina Maderthaner open RizzutoGallery's space in DüsseldorfRizzutoGallery opens its second space, in Düsseldorf, with LAGUNA, a double solo exhibition by Francesco De Grandi and Katharina Maderthaner.RizzutoGallery, Düsseldorf
- 11 July 2024Curatorial projectSalon Palermo 4, curated by Antonio Grulli and Francesco De Grandi, at RizzutoGallery, PalermoFrancesco De Grandi and Antonio Grulli curate the fourth edition of Salon Palermo, a group show of Italian painting at RizzutoGallery, Palermo.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 4 July 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi, Daniele Franzella and Turi Rapisarda in Solo che amore ti colpisca at the Real Albergo delle Povere, PalermoDe Grandi, Franzella and Rapisarda take part in Solo che amore ti colpisca, curated by Helga Marsala at the Real Albergo delle Povere, Palermo.Real Albergo delle Povere, Palermo
- 23 May 2024ExhibitionAntonio Catelani, Francesco De Grandi, Luigi Presicce and Mattia Barbieri in Per Grazia Ricevuta at Galleria Giovanni Bonelli, MilanAntonio Catelani takes part in Per Grazia Ricevuta, a group show on the ex-voto at Galleria Giovanni Bonelli, Milan, from 23 May to 27 July 2024.Galleria Giovanni Bonelli, Milan
- 10 May 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi in Dialoghi at Centometriquadri Arte Contemporanea, Santa Maria Capua VetereFrancesco De Grandi is among the nineteen artists of Dialoghi, at Centometriquadri Arte Contemporanea from 10 to 26 May 2024.Centometriquadri Arte Contemporanea, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Caserta)
- 6 April 2024TalkFrancesco De Grandi in the talk La Sacra Bellezza at ZACentrale, PalermoOn 6 April 2024 Francesco De Grandi speaks with the curators Agata Polizzi and Giulia Turconi in La Sacra Bellezza, a talk by Fondazione Merz in Palermo.ZACentrale, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo
- 21 March 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi in Giorni Felici? quello che accade, quello che può accadere, Fondazione Merz at ZACentrale, PalermoFondazione Merz shows three large paintings by Francesco De Grandi in Giorni Felici? at ZACentrale, Palermo, from 21 March to 12 May 2024.ZACentrale, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo
- 16 March 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi in interACTION Napoli 2024 at Fondazione Made in Cloister, NaplesFrancesco De Grandi takes part in interACTION Napoli, curated by Demetrio Paparoni at Made in Cloister, Naples, from 16 March to 28 September 2024.Fondazione Made in Cloister, Naples
- 15 March 2024Curatorial projectFrancesco De Grandi and Luigi Presicce in dialogue with Andrea Bruciati for ATELIER.IT at the Santuario di Ercole Vincitore, TivoliThe first episode of ATELIER.IT, at the Santuario di Ercole Vincitore in Tivoli, is built on a dialogue between Andrea Bruciati and Francesco De Grandi.Santuario di Ercole Vincitore (Antiquarium), Villa Adriana e Villa d'Este – VILLÆ, Tivoli (Rome)
- 10 March 2024ExhibitionCollaboration of RizzutoGallery with Societas SiciliaeDe Grandi, Franzella and Polizzi take part in Societas Siciliae at Collica & Partners, San Gregorio di Catania, 10 March – 10 May 2024.Collica & Partners, San Gregorio di Catania
- 20 February 2024ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi at the Museo Diocesano Carlo Maria Martini, Milan, in dialogue with Giovanni Bellini's CompiantoFrancesco De Grandi is one of four contemporary artists in dialogue with Bellini's Compianto at the Museo Diocesano, Milan, 20 February – 11 May 2024.Museo Diocesano Carlo Maria Martini, Milan
- 1 February 2024FairRizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2024RizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2024 with Francesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri and Luigi Presicce.Arte Fiera, Bologna
- 12 December 2023ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi: Narrativa at RizzutoGallery, PalermoRizzutoGallery presents Narrativa, a solo exhibition of 22 works by Francesco De Grandi, in Palermo from 12 December 2023 to 24 February 2024.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 24 October 2023ExhibitionFrancesco De Grandi and Luigi Presicce in Pittura italiana oggi at Triennale MilanoFrancesco De Grandi is among the 120 artists of Pittura italiana oggi, curated by Damiano Gullì at Triennale Milano until 11 February 2024.Triennale Milano, Milan