Recent Paintings. Working in acrylic on canvas, Casentini continues his investigation of color and shape in limited palettes of red, blue, white and silver. In each work, the artist incorporates painted plexiglass panels attached to canvas, adding a physical dimension to the paintings. The clean, hard edges of the plexi blend seamlessly into Casentini's geometric compositions and create unexpected variations in surface and texture.
Italian painter, Marco Casentini, opens a show of recent paintings at Brian Gross Fine Art on Thursday, January 6, with a reception for the artist from 5:30-7:30pm. The exhibition will feature Casentini's signature geometric abstractions, composed of overlapping rectangular shapes in intense, saturated colors. The exhibition continues through February 26.
Working in acrylic on canvas, Casentini continues his investigation of color and shape in limited palettes of red, blue, white and silver. In each work, the artist incorporates painted plexiglass panels attached to canvas, adding a physical dimension to the paintings. The clean, hard edges of the plexi blend seamlessly into Casentini's geometric compositions and create unexpected variations in surface and texture.
Casentini's seemingly non-objective works are actually the artist's translations of his emotions and environment. Each painting is inspired by a feeling, place, or memory, expressed through color and composition. In large monochromatic canvases, subtle variations in tone give the paintings a contemplative, emotive quality. In contrast, the largest work in the show features blocks of multiple hues arranged in an energetic composition that echoes both urban architecture and natural landscapes.
Born in La Spezia, Italy in 1961, Casentini studied painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Carrara, Italy. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Australia. This is his fifth solo exhibition with Brian Gross Fine Art, having first exhibited in 1999 as an emerging talent. He currently lives and works in Milan, Italy and Hermosa Beach, California.
Opening reception: Thursday, January 6, 5:30-7:30pm
Brian Gross Fine Art
49 Geary Street, 5th Floor San Francisco, CA 94108
Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday 11-5:30pm; Saturday 11-5pm
admission free