Represented artist
Mattia Barbieri
Brescia, Italy, 1985. Based in Milan and New York
Statement
With a strong technical ability and richness of elements, Mattia Barbieri’s painting reveals a style where everything unfolds on a single plane, within which disparate and heterogeneous elements are often arranged without apparent hierarchy. The composition, solid and at times virtuosic, gathers sediments from the collective imagination, the history of art, and popular culture, recombined in a new form. The pictorial elements, whether belonging to tradition or more daring visual neologisms, are used as words that make up a grammatical code employed by the artist to interact with painting as a language, through which everything is deconstructed, restructured, and reinterpreted. The surface of the paintings is sometimes animated by signs and engravings, and a very delicate line marks the distinction between the pictorial and sculptural forms, which the artist often uses as an alternative mode of expression.
Barbieri organizes his works into cycles and distinct series marked by technical innovations and iconographic forms, conceiving the potential of the painting practice as a multifaceted prism to rotate, observe, and translate. A graduate of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, since 2007 he has exhibited in solo and group shows in Italy and abroad. In 2010, he participated in the Moscow Biennale at the Winzavod Contemporary Art Center; in 2012, he won the First Painting Prize at the Lissone Museum; during Expo Milan 2015, he collaborated with the Città Ideale Project; in 2017 and 2019, he held solo shows at Pablo’s Birthday in New York. He was one of the winners of the Nocivelli Prize in 2020, and in 2022, he won the Icona Prize at ArtVerona. He has participated in international awards, residencies, and curatorial projects. He is a painting instructor at the Aldo Galli Academy of Fine Arts in Como. Since 2022, he has been represented by RizzutoGallery. He lives and works between Milan and New York.
Installation views
Santuario Tropical, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2022
Le Stanze del Contemporaneo, XII edizione Premio Nocivelli - 2020
3rooms, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2024
Le Stanze del Contemporaneo, XII edizione Premio Nocivelli - 2020
Spaccacuore, Spazio Contemporanea, Brescia - Italy - 2022
Santi, Sirene, Briganti e Baccanali, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2025
3rooms, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2024
The Butter Monk, Pablo’s Birthday Gallery, New York - 2019
3rooms, RizzutoGallery, Palermo - Italy - 2024
ArteFiera Bologna, 2025Works
Oil on copper
31 × 43 cm
Bronze
7 × 7 × 7 cm
Oil on copper
16.5 × 29 cm
Oil and tempera on wood
98 × 74 cm
Oil and tempera on wood
150 × 150 cm
Oil and tempera on wood
176 × 210 cm
Oil and tempera on wood
98 × 74 cm
Oil and tempera on wood
90 × 150 cm
Oil on copper
22 × 22 cm
Oil on wood
184 × 122 cm
Oil on panel
140 × 125 cm
Plaster, oil, gold leaf, copper, iron
64 × 64 × 32 cm
Oil on panel
227 × 130 cm
Oil on panel
134.5 × 450 cm
Exhibitions
- MilanMilano Drawing weekMattia Barbieri21 November – 29 November 2026
- DüsseldorfTwo Artists, One StudioMattia Barbieri, Metin Çelik4 September – 24 October 2026
- DüsseldorfBLUMEN DE LUMINEMattia Barbieri13 June – 26 July 2025
- PalermoSANTI, SIRENE, BRIGANTI E BACCANALIMattia Barbieri, Francesco De Grandi, Daniele Franzella, Luigi Presicce22 March – 28 June 2025
- Palermo3roomsMattia Barbieri, Daniele Franzella, Luigi Presicce27 September – 9 November 2024
- PalermoSantuario TropicalMattia Barbieri17 September – 12 November 2022
- PalermoSalon PalermoSabrina Annaloro, Mattia Barbieri, Enne Boi, Anna Capolupo and 6 more10 July – 18 September 2021
News
- 4 September 2026ExhibitionMattia Barbieri and Metin Çelik in Two Artists, One Studio at RizzutoGallery Düsseldorf for DC Open 2026For DC Open 2026 RizzutoGallery Düsseldorf becomes a shared studio for Mattia Barbieri and Metin Çelik; works on view until 24 October 2026.RizzutoGallery Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- 17 July 2026Curatorial projectLuigi Presicce curates the eighth Simposio di Pittura at Fondazione Lac o Le MonThe eighth Simposio di Pittura, curated by Luigi Presicce with Matteo Coluccia, takes place at Fondazione Lac o Le Mon from 17 to 31 July 2026.Fondazione Lac o Le Mon, San Cesario di Lecce
- 30 April 2026ExhibitionLuigi Presicce and Mattia Barbieri in Socialmente utili at MuDi Museo Diffuso di Lentate sul SevesoLuigi Presicce takes part in Socialmente utili, curated by Thomas Berra in Lentate sul Seveso, 30 April – 2 June 2026.MuDi Museo Diffuso di Lentate sul Seveso / Spazio Egidio Isacco, Lentate sul Seveso
- 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
- 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
- 12 December 2025ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Microcosmi at Studio la Linea Verticale, BolognaMattia Barbieri is one of sixteen artists in Microcosmi, a show of very small works at Studio la Linea Verticale, Bologna, until 17 January 2026.Studio la Linea Verticale, Bologna
- 3 October 2025PublicationMattia Barbieri interviewed by Tommaso Evangelista in EspoarteEspoarte
- 11 September 2025FairRizzutoGallery at viennacontemporary 2025RizzutoGallery at viennacontemporary 2025 with Daniele Franzella and Mattia Barbieri.Messe Wien, Halle D, Vienna
- 8 August 2025ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Xilogenesi, a project by Dolomiti Contemporanee and the University of PaduaMattia Barbieri is among the artists of Xilogenesi, shown in Perarolo di Cadore in August 2025 and at the Orto botanico di Padova until 6 January 2026.Palazzo Lazzaris, Perarolo di Cadore (8–31 August 2025); Museo botanico, Orto botanico di Padova (26 September 2025 – 6 January 2026), Perarolo di Cadore; Padua
- 13 June 2025ExhibitionMattia Barbieri: BLUMEN DE LUMINE at RizzutoGallery DüsseldorfMattia Barbieri's solo exhibition BLUMEN DE LUMINE is on view at RizzutoGallery Düsseldorf from 13 June to 26 July 2025.RizzutoGallery Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
- 23 May 2025ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Work in progress at Studio la Linea Verticale, BolognaA work by Mattia Barbieri is part of Work in progress, the live-installation show for the third anniversary of Studio la Linea Verticale, Bologna.Studio la Linea Verticale, Bologna
- 16 April 2025ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Atelier.it IV episodio at the Santuario di Ercole Vincitore, TivoliMattia Barbieri is one of ten painters in Atelier.it IV episodio. Un viatico nelle pratiche pittoriche, in Tivoli from 17 April to 8 June 2025.Antiquarium, Santuario di Ercole Vincitore (Istituto Villa Adriana e Villa d'Este – VILLÆ), Tivoli
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 14 October 2024AwardSpecial mention for Mattia Barbieri at ArtVerona 2024Presented by RizzutoGallery at ArtVerona 2024, Mattia Barbieri receives a special mention announced with The Drawing Hall's ArteMuseo prize.ArtVerona, Veronafiere, Verona
- 27 September 2024Exhibition3rooms: Mattia Barbieri, Daniele Franzella and Luigi Presicce at RizzutoGallery, PalermoRizzutoGallery presents 3rooms, three mini solo shows by Mattia Barbieri, Daniele Franzella and Luigi Presicce, from 27 September to 9 November 2024.RizzutoGallery, Palermo
- 12 September 2024ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Novecento. Il secolo lungo at Galleria Giovanni Bonelli, MilanMattia Barbieri shows Solve et Coagula (2024) in Novecento. Il secolo lungo, curated by Stefano Castelli, Milan, 12 September – 19 October 2024.Galleria Giovanni Bonelli, Milan
- 27 July 2024ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Le Fogge delle Rocce, Dolomiti Contemporanee, Nuovo Spazio di CassoMattia Barbieri takes part in Le Fogge delle Rocce, Dolomiti Contemporanee's 2024 group show at the Nuovo Spazio di Casso, until 31 December 2024.Nuovo Spazio di Casso al Vajont (Dolomiti Contemporanee), Casso
- 16 July 2024ResidencyMattia Barbieri at the sixth Simposio di Pittura, Fondazione Lac o Le MonMattia Barbieri takes part in the sixth edition of the Simposio di Pittura at Fondazione Lac o Le Mon, 16 July – 2 August 2024.Fondazione Lac o Le Mon, San Cesario di Lecce
- 16 July 2024Curatorial projectLuigi Presicce curates the sixth Simposio di Pittura at Fondazione Lac o Le MonThe sixth Simposio di Pittura, conceived and curated by Luigi Presicce, takes place at Fondazione Lac o Le Mon from 16 July to 2 August 2024.Fondazione Lac o Le Mon – Casa Cafausica, San Cesario di Lecce
- 23 May 2024ExhibitionMattia Barbieri in Aesthetic Dialogues at Manuel Zoia Gallery, MilanMattia Barbieri is one of seven painters in Aesthetic Dialogues, curated by Martina Buttiglieri, Milan, 23 May – 29 June 2024.Manuel Zoia Gallery, Milan
- 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
- 19 March 2024ExhibitionMattia Barbieri: Maciste contro Maciste at SUBPLACE, MilanMattia Barbieri presents Maciste contro Maciste at SUBPLACE, the window space in Milan's Villapizzone station, 19 March – 15 April 2024.SUBPLACE, Stazione del Passante Ferroviario di Villapizzone, Milan
- 1 February 2024ExhibitionMattia Barbieri and Monica Mazzone: Sostanziale-Super-Sostanziale at Studio la Linea Verticale, BolognaTwo-person show of Mattia Barbieri and Monica Mazzone in Bologna, in collaboration with RizzutoGallery, until 9 March 2024.Studio la Linea Verticale, Bologna
- 1 February 2024FairRizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2024RizzutoGallery at Arte Fiera 2024 with Francesco De Grandi, Mattia Barbieri and Luigi Presicce.Arte Fiera, Bologna
- 19 January 2024AwardMattia Barbieri among the finalists of the X Premio Cramum in the exhibition Eroi?Mattia Barbieri is one of the ten finalists of the X Premio Cramum, shown in Eroi? at Collezioni Paneghini, Reti, Busto Arsizio, from January 2024.Collezioni Paneghini, Reti, Busto Arsizio