The biography of the artist Michele Volpicella
He trained artistically at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari, he attended the lessons of both Hector Saunier, director of the Atelier Contrepoint de Paris (ex Atelier 17) and of Master Zhang Huinan, as for water-color technique and Chinese Calligraphy. Defined by the critics as having a strong and vivid sense of color.
His paintings tend to detach themselves from the traditional figuration, acquiring particular value as for the colors and for the sceneries rich of Nordic echoes wrapped by a silent and suspended mood, almost metaphysical.
Concept
Sensitive urban landscapes, landscapes to be protected, and landscapes to be built. Humans need history and beauty, but also spaces in which to be a society: in which to meet, exchange, and socialize with those close to them and similar, but also with those far away and different, with strangers.
- …Cities, like dreams, are built of desires and fears, even if the thread of their discourse is secret… (Italo Calvino)
- Volpicella’s work becomes a Calvinist invisible city, along with all the knots of its memories, desires, signs, and languages that become tangled in steep, lively planes… (Anna Vittoria Magagna)
Deliberately frameless urban landscapes that form a constellation of geometric shapes, lending the representation a pleasing rhythm, also hark back to a thought by Tommaso d’Aquino:
“Between our soul and our body there are many small windows. From there, if they are open, emotions pass; if they are ajar, they barely filter through. Only love can throw them all open at once, like a gust of wind.”
His creative project consisted of decontextualizing the Sassi of Matera, re-presenting them in visionary and colorful scenarios, in different hues but always with refined balance and elegance.
The first documentation and publications of this creative intuition date back to the 1990s, garnering national and international recognition.
In 2004, his works arrived in Basilicata, sparking collaborations with galleries and institutions. Today, he continues to inspire numerous artists and companies.
Main events
From October 2025 to January 2026, his work “Labirinti d’Arte” will be on display at the Nicolaiano Museum in Bari (godmother of the inauguration Nathaly Caldonazzo). He has been invited to participate in the Kepos Fest in Putignano.
It is present at the 2024 Venice Biennale, Exibart selection, with the work “La città dell’Armonia.”
He will be in Matera at the Dichio Garden Center for the themed exhibition “Animal Days” (hosted by Stefania Orlando).
He will be invited by the Nikolaus Foundation to the themed exhibition “Riflessi Nicolaiani” at the Civic Museum of Bari.
The following solo exhibitions have been held in 2023: in February, titled “Cities like dreams,” at the Alessandro Albanese Galleria, Palazzo Calopreso (Matera), and in March at the Civic Museum (Bari).
He has permanent works at the Thomson Gallery Fine Art (Zurich, Switzerland) and the Casa del Arte (Palma de Mallorca, Spain).
In 2022, he was invited to create an exhibition of unique works on paper at Feltrinelli in Bari.
The exhibition, titled “La Contrada dei Grandi Visionari“, represents a fantastical journey through the artist’s encounters with the homes of the masters who contributed to his artistic development.
At the request of the Lucano company, in 2020 he created a work for a limited edition of Amaro Lucano.
Due to its commercial success, it was later promoted to a Premium Edition.
Starting from 2018, he has begun a series of artistic events which aim at the achievement of the Matera European Capital of Culture 2019 project, entitled “From Bricksburg to Matera…passing through Milan” edited by Avangart – Nicolò Giovine and Sebastiano Pepe.
It will be the third itinerant event in cooperation with LEGO, opened with the setting up of Palazzo Gattini Luxury Hotel’s halls and a devoted area of Molfetta Puglia Outlet Village and that will involve also Milan.
He has took part in the realization of the screenplay of the movie and Tv series, produced by HBO and Wildside, “The Genius friend” taken from the best seller of Elena Ferrante.
In 2017, he introduces the second event in Matera, in partnership with LEGO, the personal exhibition “Bricksburg, the city of small bricks” (monograph).
On this pattern LEGO certified professional has built seven installations inspired by Volpicella’s works.
In the same year he took part to the contemporary art exhibition “The Woman Source of Life”, held at Palazzo Della Marra (Barletta, Puglia, Italy).
He makes, for the Association Risvolti of Matera, the Materafriendly Logo.
On the 100th anniversary of Giro d’Italia he’s invited to make the work “The Visible image of the Wind”.
In 2016 he inaugurate, in Taipei, two personal exhibitions i.e. “The places of Memory” at the Taipei World Trade Center and at the X-Power Gallery.
In 2015 he’s finalist on 4033 candidates for The Prize Art Revolution Travel and he is invited for the following year to be present with his works to a double solo show in TWTC and in the X-Power Gallery. In the same year, he inaugurate in Matera the personal “The house of the keeper of the small bricks”. This event marks the first step to his cooperation with LEGO, who set up an installation of 70x70xh50cm inspired by his work.
In 2013 he is included in the book by Michele Campione “La Voce dei colori” published by Gelsorosso. He’s invited in Milan from SpaziArti Gallery to show his personal “Places of Memory”; and in Matera, at the Opera Gallery, for a solo exhibition entitled “Stone Labyrinths”. In the same year he takes part in ExpoArte – Bari with the gall. Opera, Art & Co.
In 2012 he makes a work for the Vatican devoted to Benedict XVI Pope – the delivery ceremony was broadcast live through the national television.
In the same year he’s invited to participate with his works to the exhibition “The modernity of Bona Sforza” curated by Antonella Marino (catalog) presented in the XVII century Palazzo Piazzetta Della Corte in Modugno (BA) then he’s present also in “Enucleare” (catalog) curated by the Academy of Fine Arts, which took place at the Sala Murat in Bari.
In 2010 he inaugurated his personal “Mediterraneo” (monograph) at Sala dei Templari in Molfetta (BA).
The exhibition curated by Nicolò Giovine and Sebastiano Pepe (Avangart Creative Connections).
On the occasion of the reopening of Teatro Petruzzelli, after 20 years from the fire that devastated it, he’s invited to display his works in the foyer for the first of “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini.
In 2009 he’s finalist at the Art Prize Laguna (5945 candidates) in Venice.
He shares his participation at the “Memorial Day – The Shoah” at the State Archives – Cittadella Della Cultura in Bari (catalog), his works is introduced by the journalist Enzo Quarto on National Television.
In 2008 he’s quoted by the journalist and writer Raffaele Nigro in his book Novecento in Color.
In the same year during the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of Frida Kalho, he’s invited at the Palazzo di Giustizia in Saltillo City – Mexico for the exhibition “In the manner of Frida Kalho” which was itinerant in the major Mexican cities (catalog).
In 2007 he was invited at the Sulmona Prize (AQ) and took part at the National Exhibition of Visual Art held by the Corradino D’Ascanio Museum at Popoli (PE) (catalog).
He shared his participation at “Young Artists” at the Gallery AngelArt & Design of Milan.
In 2006 he was invited at “Human@rt” at Le Ciminiere center in Catania, curated by Lucio Barbera (catalog Effegieffe Arti Grafiche – Messina); in the same year he is at Art Fair in Catania with the galleries AngelArt& Design and L’Immagine of Milan.
In 2005 he shares with Sandro Chia, Michele Damiani, Omar Galliani, Mimmo Paladino, Mimmo Rotella, his participation at the group “With Love” at the branches of Bari and Milan of L’Immagine Gallery (catalog edited by Raffaele Nigro).
In 2004 he participates at the exhibition “Il Novecento & Oltre” with Giorgio De Chirico, Carlo Carrà, Giorgio Morandi, Felice Casorati, Massimo Campigli, Mario Tozzi, Fortunato Depero, Renato Guttuso, Sandro Chia, Armodio, Alberto Sughi, Franz Borghese; an itinerant event hosted by the Arezzo, Milan and Bari’s branches of L’Immagine Gallery (catalog edited by Raffaele Nigro).
In the same year he opens the solo exhibition “The colors of the soul” sponsored by Telecom Italia at Sala Colonnato of the Palazzo Della Provincia di Bari (monograph) and inaugurates the solo exhibition “When the color is listening” at Palazzo Marchesale in Pomarico (MT).
He inaugurates the solo exhibition The extraordinary passion at Il Tetto Gallery in Rome and opens another solo exhibition at the Gallery La Tartaruga entitled “A colorful journey”
He is invited at Mail Art International Exhibition at the Civic Gallery of contemporary art in Termoli (CB).
Among the participants: Bruno Donzelli, Carmelo Zotti, Treccani, Ugo Nespolo, A. Miro, Felice Casorati, Luca Alinari, K. Nakamura, Trento Longaretti, Concetto Pozzati, Eva Blaszak, Tommaso Cascella, Ennio Calabria, Riccardo Licata, Christo and Jeanne Claude.
He is present at ArtExpo in Barcelona (Spain) with L’Immagine Gallery (AR) – catalog.
He is invited to “Art & Maggio” exhibition of contemporary art at Arena Della Vittoria in Bari curated by Luciana Cataldo and Toti Carpentieri (catalog)
