Giorgio Distefano
Giorgio Distefano was born in Ragusa in 1972. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Art, in 1996 in Florence, where he lives and works. From 1995, he began studying painting techniques in renowned Florentine workshops, reaching a wide knowledge of pictorial styles and materials.
With his passionate interest for visual arts he deepened his personal stylistic research into photography and sculpture.
From 1998, he also worked as a costume and set designer amalgamating traditional Italian Commedia dell’ Arte with experimental art and performances.
The starting point of his work is always beauty and research of emotion using memory’s influences, and melancholy and silence in changing twilight colours. He finds beauty everywhere and magnifies it with his artistic vision and skills. He continues the process of creativity by combining traditional painting techniques and a contemporary point of view: in portraits of cities and urban views, Mediterranean landscapes, using a balance of elements taken from nature, technology and symbolic aspects of reality.
In Distefano’s work, optical values and inner visions coexist in a happy and never impudent balance; architectures – shapes of our ordinary living – do not exclude the human presence, because they contain and summarize it, becoming space of experience as tomorrow of memory too, a sense of belonging to a place.
The careful study of what he likes to call a state of light, confirms the devotion to the path of life.
A note made of chromatic and atmospheric vibrations that, at any latitude, benefits by the lesson naturally learned in the Mediterranean light of Iblei mounts.
Some of his works are present in various private and public collections in United States, in China’s Peace Tour Cultural Exchange Center of Beijing; in the Civic Contemporary Art Gallery “Franco Libertucci”, in Casacalenda – CB (Ialy); Gran Caffè Giubbe Rosse in Florence and the Modern and Contemporary Art Thelesiamuseum in San Roberto – RC (Italy), and in private collections in Holland, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Austria, Italy.
Solo shows:
2022
- reverse dialogue: orientate among the rubble. Giorgio Distefano | Ettore Pinelli, curated by Mattia Lapperier, Cartavetra Gallery - Florence
2020
- The Emotional Maps, curated by Singintherain.Space, Zit2-Dim2 Art Space, Tainan - Taiwan
2019
- Sheets of stone - curated by Cartavetra, presented by Antonella Huber, Cartavetra gallery - Florence
2018
- Geografie sentimentali - Distefano/Marchica double solo show, curated by Cristina Costanzo, 091 Art Project at Rizzuto Gallery - Palermo Capital of Culture 2018 - Palermo
- Geografie dell'anima, curated by Sergio Tossi, Egg Visual Art - Livorno
2017
- La rosa dei venti, Distefano - Robalo double solo show, Sensi Arte Gallery, Colle di Val d'Elsa (SI)
- Ex Voto Suscepto, Studio Bong - Florence
2016
- Cartografie, Cartavetra Gallery - Florence
- Giorgio Distefano in KPMG, curated by Antonio D'Amico for MARCOROSSI Contemporary Art, KPMG - Milan
- Human Landscape, curated by Forme Art, Florio Winery, Marsala - Trapani
2014
- Island in light, curated by Teresa Lucia Cicciarella, Montesano Palace - Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG); Zacco Palace - Ragusa
- States of light, AGORA|Z Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
2013
- Revealed Forms, Co2 Atmosfera Creativa, Florence
2012
- The perspective of the orange, Dhai Studio Atelier, Florence
2011
- Teleporto - Out of broadcast Art, Sea Hall, Ancona
- On a Journey, Gran Caffé letterario Giubbe Rosse, Florence
2010
- Communicating rooms-5, Italian Visual Arts Award, Eco D’arte Moderna Gallery, Florence
2009
- Earth and Heaven, Albergaccio del Machiavelli Museum, Sant’Andrea in Percussina, Florence
Group Exhibitions:
2022:
- Fractions of Infinity, curated by Giovanni Scucces, SACCA - Contenitore di sicilianità, Pozzallo (RG)
- Inside the Myth, curated by Francesco Piazza,with the contribution of the Institute of Culture in Athens and Trinacria hellenic/sicilian Community , Mill of Pappas, Larissa - Grecia
- Visioni Oblique - Libri d’artista, Libri oggetto, Fototesti per il Belìce, curated by Cristina Costanzo, Museo delle Trame Mediterranee Fondazione Orestiadi - Gibellina (TP)
- MuziArt Taipei 2022, curated by Studio Singintherain, Sheraton Gran Hotel Taipei - Taiwan
- Around the Sun | Attorno al Sole, curated by Badia Lost & Found, Beneventano Palace- Lentini (SR)
2021:
- WAAG - We are all Greeks, mostra per il bicentenario dell’Indipendenza greca, curated by Francesco Piazza, Museum of the Byzantine culture - Salonicco, Grecia | Museum of contemporary Art Palazzo Belmonte Riso - Palermo
- Spring Collection, curated by CRAG Home Gallery - Torino
- Spring Contemporary Art Salon, Auction Center, Taipei - Taiwan
- Pond Exhibition - Blue, curated by Studio Singintherain, Garden City Bookstore, Taipei - Taiwan
2020:
- 40 days - Artisti in quarantena, a cura di Mattia Lapperier, Associazione Quasi Quadro - Torino
- Uno per ciascuno, curated by Cartavetra Gallery - Florence
- Zines – Sicily in twenty zines, curated by Giuseppe Mendolia Calella, Eglise - Palermo
2019:
- Contemporary winds, Contemporary Art Festival, curated by Virginia Glorioso, Cereggio - Reggio Emilia
- Migliandolo Contemporary Art, artist’s residency, curated by Lorenzo Canova and Claudio Mogliotti, Antica casa Nebiolo, Migliandolo - Asti
- Contemporary Sign, curated by Yuan Leping, Bellini Museum - Florence and DingYuan International Art Center - Beijing, Cina
- Icons. Tradition and contemporarity, curated by Francesco Piazza and Giovanni Travagliato, Diocesan Museum of Monreale, Palermo
- Love’s answer, curated by Francesco Piazza, Cantieri culturali alla Zisa, Palermo
2018:
- Materia prima, curated by Cartavetra gallery, inside Hidden-Hub - Ashtart Creative, in partnership with ArtVerona Fair, Contarini Vanzetti Palace - Verona
- Ad Oriente, curated by Annamaria Restieri and Giorgio Cattani, Fabula project Art Gallery, Ferrara
- Rosy for ever, curated by Francesco Piazza, Border Line - Palermo
- Italian contemporary Art of cross-cultural Vision, curated by Zhang Yidan, Phoenix Ancient city Art Museum - Fenghuang (China)
- ToskaniArte, a cura di Joanna Brzescinska-Riccio e Giuseppe Joh Capozzolo, Arte Hotel di Zamosc - Polonia
- Artist's book International Exhibition, Cartavetra Gallery, Florence
2017:
- Homage to Salvo Monica, curated by Francesco Lauretta, Ex chiesa di Sant'Anna, Ispica - Ragusa (Italy)
2016:
- SFACCIATI, curated by Andrea Guastella, Palazzo Zacco - Ragusa (Italy)
- ARTEAM Cup 2016, group exhibition of the finalists, Palazzo del Monferrato - Alessandria (Italy)
- Comparing young artists: China - Italy, curated BY AACI Italia, ART A. C. Museum, Beijing - China
- Space. Inside and outside the limits, ART PRIZE CBM Turin Prague London, curated by Barbora Mastrlovà, Art Salon's Gallery Dancing House, Prague
2015:
- III edition ART PRIZE CBM Turin Prague London, International Art Award Carlo Bonatto Minella, curated by Areacreativa42, Rivarolo Canavese - Turin
- Kosmos, curated by Site Specific, The Bell Tower Museum of Santa Maria La Nova, Scicli – Ragusa
- The shirt in Art and Language, curated by CNA Marche, La Congrega and Librare, National Archeological Museum of Marche, Ancona
- International Exhibition of the Works by Artists for Peace Who can give us Peace, European Parliament - Brussels, Belgium
2014:
- #collective5 - spazio.arte.contemporanea - Lipari, Aeolian Islands - Messina
- Mani, Spazio Ben pop-up Gallery, San Gimignano - Siena
- Contemporary Art Award JANUA, I ed., Sant’Agostino Museum, Genoa
2013:
- Contemporary Art Gallery “Franco Libertucci”, new acquisitions Casacalenda (CB)
- Man’s right, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, Le Murate – Florence
- Contemporary Art Award Paola Occhi II Ed. Exemplo Esse, Migliarino - Ferrara
- VII Art to Castle – The Great Wealth – Delizia Estense del Verginese, Portomaggiore - Ferrara
- Oradaria, curated by Michele Bellamy Postiglione, Ex Carceri al Castello, Lipari – Messina
- Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Foundation, permanent exhibition, Florence
- W.A.RT Award for Art, Saint Antony’s Ancient Hospital, Lastra a Signa - Florence
2012:
- En touto Nika, Merlino bottega d’Arte Gallery, Florence
- XI/XII B.C. International Art Festival Ar[t]cevia, Sala Cappuccini Arcevia – Ancona
- Cromica Award II Edition, Bibbiena, Arezzo
- XVI Award for contemporary Art Basilio Cascella, Ortona – Chieti
- I Award for contemporary Art Paola Occhi, Migliarino – Ferrara
2011:
- Ars Gratia Artis, La Corte Gallery, Florence
- Timeless views, IAC Gallery, Impruneta, Florence
- XLI Open air exhibition Gruppo Donatello, Florence
- Water, Figurative Arts Circle, Empoli
- Commemorating 150 years of the Italian National Unity, Installation, IAC Gallery, Impruneta, Florence
- URBANA! - Art, City, Ideas - Arte Oltre gallery, Caffè Letterario, Roma
2010
- Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery Telesiamuseum, acquisition of the painting "Veduta" San Roberto (RC), Italy
- Variations on Red, IAC gallery, Impruneta, Florence (Italy)
- Centenary of the Futurist manifest Award, Gran Caffe’ Letterario Giubbe Rosse, Florence
- Contemporary Art Festival, IAC Gallery Impruneta, Florence
Competitions and awards:
2016
- ARTEAM Cup 2016, Contemporary Art Prize, Palazzo del Monferrato - Alessandria (Italy)
2015
- ART PRIZE CBM Turin Prague London, International Prize Carlo Bonatto Minella, curated by AREACREATIVA42, Rivarolo Canavese, Turin (Italy)
2014
- Contemporary Art Award JANUA, I ed. third award in painting section, Sant’Agostino Museum, Genoa (Italy)
2013
- MUSicA Art Prize, I edition, third Award for painting, Gran Caffè Giubbe Rosse - Florence (Italy)
2012
-Contemporary Art Prize Basilio Cascella, XVI edition, first Award for painting, Palazzo Farnese Ortona – Chieti (Italy)
-Cromica Award, II edition, honourable mention for painting, Bibbiena – Arezzo (Italy)
-Merlino Art Prize, I edition, third award for painting, Merlino Gallery, Florence (Italy)
-Contemporary Art Award Paola Occhi, I edition, finalist in painting section, Migliarino – Ferrara (Italy)