Valerio Adami

 ( 1935 Bologna, Italy )

Lives and works between Paris, Monaco and Meina (Italy).

In 1945, at the age of ten, Adami begins to study painting in the studio of Felice Carena, in Venice. At the age of sixteen, in 1951, he is accepted at the Accademia di Brera, and studies as a draughtsman under Achille Funi until 1954. During this time, Adami meets Kokoschka and Matta in Venice. In 1955, he travels to Paris, where he meets and is influenced by Roberto Matta and Wifredo Lam. In 1957, Adami has his first solo exhibition in Milan and begins to move back and forth between Italy and Paris, with trips also to London, New York, South America and India. In 1962, he marries Camilla, also a painter, and settles in Arona at Lago Maggiore, but travels frequently to New York and London, where he creates numerous pictures on urban topics.

He works persistently, in the same manner he would approach an altar. “In the evening, my drawing is finished, I find myself with my hands clasped – homo religious” he whispers. He participates to Venice Biennale in 1968 and 1995; and to Documenta in 1968 and 1977.