Gian Marco Montesano

Gian Marco Montesano is a multifaceted artist born in Turin in 1949. He began his education at the Salesian Seminary of Valdocco in Turin but soon abandoned the ecclesiastical path to pursue art and culture. In the 1970s, he moved first to Bologna and then to Paris, where he engaged with prominent intellectuals such as Gilles Deleuze and Jean Baudrillard, influences that deeply shaped his work. His early creations include enlarged reproductions of sacred images and Madonnas, reinterpreted in a postmodern key and enriched with conceptual and theoretical meanings, demonstrating his ability to blend popular tradition with philosophical reflection.

Montesano is known for addressing historical and social themes, particularly the dramatic events of the 20th century, using images drawn from postcards, photographs, magazines, and political propaganda iconography. His painting style is characterized by post-realist elements, including portraits, urban landscapes, and cinematic views, always with a critical and reflective approach. Throughout his career, he has participated in major international events such as the Venice Biennale in 1993 and 2009, the Rome Quadriennale, the Tirana Biennale, and the Prague Biennale.

In addition to painting, Montesano is also a writer and theater director, living and working between Bologna, Paris, and Trento. His work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and critical studies, and in 2018 he created the banner for the extraordinary Palio of Siena. His art is regarded as a profound reflection on historical memory and the human condition, using painting as a philosophical language and a tool for knowledge.