Mimmo Paladino

Mimmo Paladino, born Domenico Paladino, was born on December 18, 1948, in Paduli, Benevento, Italy. He is one of the leading figures of the Transavanguardia, an Italian art movement founded by Achille Bonito Oliva in 1980, which marked a return to figurative painting after the conceptual currents of the 1970s. Paladino was introduced to art by his painter uncle Salvatore and attended the Liceo Artistico in Benevento, where he developed his first artistic skills. He made his debut in 1968 at the Galleria Carolina in Portici.
In the 1970s, Paladino moved to Milan, where he encountered new artistic trends and began experimenting with various techniques, from photography and drawing to performance and theater. With his involvement in the Transavanguardia movement, Paladino consolidated his international reputation, exhibiting at major events such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta in Kassel. Between 1980 and 1982, he exhibited in numerous European and American cities, establishing himself as a leading figure in the contemporary art scene.
Paladino’s style is recognizable for its use of archaic symbols, masks, animals, hands, and heads, often inspired by diverse cultures such as Greco-Roman, Etruscan, and paleo-Christian. The artist also experiments with ancient techniques like encaustic and mosaic, creating visually striking works. Among his most famous works are the bronze sculpture Giardino Chiuso (1982), the monument La porta di Lampedusa (2008), and the doors for the church of Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo (2004), created in collaboration with architect Renzo Piano.
Mimmo Paladino was the first contemporary Italian artist to hold a solo exhibition in China, at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in 1994. He has published artist books, including Ulysses, and collaborated with architects and designers such as Ettore Sottsass, Mario Botta, and Roberto Serino. His activity extends to theatrical set design and the creation of large-scale installations in various Italian cities. Today, his works are present in public and private collections worldwide.