Italian artist Ian Bertolucci graduated in 2019 from the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara specialising in painting and visual arts. His realistic oil paintings are characterised by dense, bright colours, intense light, and strong contrasts, which together define – almost sculpt – colourful lifelike forms.
Rhythm and repetition are fundamental elements of his work, reflecting deep-seated personal resonances. Fluid, reflective and translucent materials are at the centre of his current creative interest. The vast colour palette adopted by the author aims to create a strong visual impact – almost shocking – in the viewer, dazzling them and then forcing them to look for every single detail in the composition. In his production, some subjects are studied and repeated, almost obsessively.
“I believe that, for me, the idea of repetition is something that founds its roots in my neurodiversity. Repetitive and ritual attitudes satisfy an innate need inherent in my person. I believe that painting and creativity are a great way to elaborate and support the mental mechanisms of those who do not have a neurotypical mind. Sometimes, repeating the same subject allows the author to follow a scheme which, while remaining the same, has the possibility of being configured and distorted from time to time, thus finding the possibility to deepen research related to the perception of space, light and colours without digressing giving too much importance to the identity of the depicted subject.”
The vivacity of his artistry is evident in the rich, luminous colour teamed with the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, and the overstated contrasts of each. These elements not only enliven the subjects but etch them invariably onto the canvas, achieving such dimensionality that viewers warily approach the work wondering when they will touch it.
Bertolucci is represented in Taiwan, Spain and Australia and is garnering significant attention around the world for his hyper-realistic oil paintings.
Education
2016 – 2019 Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara
2017 Facultad de Psicología y Bellas Artes de la Universidad de Salamanca
2013 – 2016 Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara
2009 – 2013 Stagio Stagi Art Institute, Pietrasanta
Selected group exhibitions
2023 “Silk Road Artists Rendezvous” Chinese Ministry of Culture, China
2023 “The Little World in my Heart” Yin Art Gallery, Taiwan
2023 “Art Taipei 2023” 333Gallery, Taiwan
2023 “Estampa Contemporary Art Fair” Garna Art GAllery, Madrid
2023 “Really Dreamy Groovy” Joyman Gallery, Bangkok
2023 “Context” Signature Fine Art, Miami, US
2023 “MiSonny Art Festival” (in collaboration with Soho House) – Mexico City
2023 “Todos a la mesa” Galeria Ana Tejeda, Mexico City
2022 “ROA goes offline” Kunstlerhaus (Albertina Modern), Vienna
2020 “Nocivelli Prize Finalists” Chiesa della disciplina, Verolanuova.
2019 “Building a new world”, Pinacoteca Albertina, Torino.
2018 “(un)BOXED”, Carrozzerie | n.o.t, Roma.
2018 “In-Differenza”, Fortezza da Basso, Firenze.
Awards
2020 Finalist “Premio Nocivelli”
2019 Finalist “Premio Nazionale delle Arti”
2018 Second prize winner “EneganArt”
Press
2022 FORBES, Kunst für alle
2020 Premio Nocivelli, Catalog
2020 LOK ZINE #12 GEN(DER)RE / GENERE
2018 Forme nel Verde, Catalog
2018 Premio EneganArt, Catalog
