Paolo Avanzi is a contemporary Italian artist. Before dedicating himself to the visual arts, he gained experience in various cultural fields (piano music, literary studies, creative writing, psychology, etc.).
His informal and abstract paintings, influenced by Pollock and Burri, first appeared in 2000 and utilized a variety of mediums (plastic, wood, glass). Since 2005, he has been working on experimental figurations based on mirror-like effects. The human figures depicted in these paintings seem to be seen through a broken mirror. This series, called “Fragment – Alteration” is composed by numerous paintings realized over two decades. These works resonates with themes of duality—balancing visibility and invisibility, strength and fragility—mirroring the complexities of individual experiences within societal frameworks.
Avanzi’s painting is characterized by bold colors and dynamic brushwork, employing acrylics to create depth and texture. The abstract elements intertwine with figurative forms, reflecting the chaos and fluidity of contemporary life. This approach not only challenges traditional representations of authority and success but also evokes a sense of vulnerability in the subject.
“Manager sul divano” embodies a critical examination of contemporary society, particularly the intersection of corporate life and personal identity. The piece features a figure, possibly a corporate manager, reclining on a couch—a juxtaposition of professionalism and leisure that invites viewers to reflect on the paradoxes of modern existence.
Influenced by both Pop Art and abstract expressionism, Avanzi draws inspiration from iconic artists such as Jackson Pollock and Alberto Burri. His work resonates with themes of duality—balancing visibility and invisibility, strength and fragility—mirroring the complexities of individual experiences within societal frameworks. The masters of Italian Pop Art (Mario Schifano, Tano Festa, etc.) have served as inspiration for his series, “Post Pop Art”.
Graduated in Psychology and holding a master’s in Organization, Paolo Avanzi has worked for over thirty years in multinational service companies as a corporate executive and project manager. Alongside his corporate work, he has developed skills in various artistic and cultural fields.
As an artist, he has created around a thousand works exhibited in dozens of solo, collective exhibitions, and fairs in Italy and abroad. He has written dozens of theatrical texts, novels, and poems. Additionally, in 2025, he released three albums of songs he wrote and performed.
Thanks to his diverse education, Paolo Avanzi is able to approach any subject with a distinct emotional energy because, as he himself says, “Art fills your life.”
Paolo Avanzi
Italy, 1958
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