Biography

Francesco Clemente is a leading figure of the Italian Transavanguardia movement, known for his nomadic lifestyle and dreamlike, figurative works that bridge Western and Eastern traditions. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1952, Clemente initially studied architecture at the Sapienza University of Rome before turning to art. In the 1970s, he began traveling extensively to India, establishing a studio in Madras (Chennai), which profoundly shaped his aesthetic. He moved to New York City in 1981, where he became a central figure in the vibrant downtown art scene alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. He continues to divide his time between New York, Italy, and India.