Michele Simonetti: In the Artist's Studio

Welcome to the creative sanctuary of Michele Simonetti, an Italian-born and now Brooklyn-based artist whose painting journey has spanned a decade of exploration and introspection. It was in the depths of the pandemic that Michele experienced an artistic breakthrough, realizing that through painting he achieved balance and newfound peace within himself. Stepping into Michele's studio offers a glimpse into the inner workings of a mind deeply attuned to the nuances of color, form, and emotion.

Having showcased his work across New York City, Milan, and Miami, Michele's art transcends borders, a reflection of his own path from Italy to the eclectic landscape of New York. His abstract - but not too abstract - style mirrors the essence of the city itself; in his words, “In New York City, everyone can find some piece of home here.” Similarly, Michele’s compositions resonate with a broad audience, offering a sense of familiarity and connection to people from all walks of life. Viewers have multiple access points with which to find a piece of themselves - perhaps a memory, or a conception of home - in the scene.

Michele began painting with smaller canvases at first, but now gravitates towards larger expanses. Each piece serves as a canvas for research, starting with a picture - physical or mental - that undergoes a meticulous process of refinement. Through the removal of extraneous elements - layers, colors, shapes - Michele unveils the structural core of his subjects. There's a potent geometric quality to Michele's art, a nod to Pythagorean influences in his creative process. Working along the X, Y, and Z axes, he fabricates a mesmerizing three-dimensional effect.

Your artistic process involves removing extraneous elements to reveal the underlying structure of your subjects. Could you discuss how you decide which elements to keep and which to remove, and how you know when to stop?

"It is a relentless process of subtraction through which I strive to remove all and every detail, to expose a structure, an archetype. What is left on the canvas is almost nothing, the bare skeleton of a memory, just a reminder of what was there. And I’m always second guessing myself in the process, most of the time thinking the pieces are too much: too colorful, too busy, or too empty, for what matters. I let them sit on the easel for a few weeks, until they sink in and reveal themselves to me. It’s almost like the more I wait, the more I detach from them. The more they become part of the environment, almost tapestry, the easier is to understand if they’re ready to be shown."

Inspired by the likes of Ellsworth Kelly, Michele infuses each piece with vibrant colors, a process that typically unfolds over the course of a week. His use of neutral acrylic mediums, coupled with materials like paste and gel, lends a rich texture to his pieces, while heated wax imbues them with a foggy, ethereal quality that brings them to life, vibrating with energy.

Over the past decade, Michele's distinctive style has remained largely consistent, a testament to the enduring wellspring of inspiration that fuels his work. Yet, he acknowledges the importance of allowing both his art and himself time to breathe and room to unfold. Michele’s recent exploration of what he calls “a new line of research” - untethered from the linearity and specificity of time, and in which cityscapes play an important thematic role - reflects the fruits of his artistic evolution, rendered ripe for harvest only when one has time to breathe.

Having only recently decided to sell his work early last year, Michele acknowledges the deeply personal nature of his creations. In his words: “It can feel like you’re giving away a piece of you.” The intimacy of Michele’s work is evident in his studio, where the art is not just a visual experience but a transporting medium for all, inspiring viewers to detect pieces of themselves within it.

What are your aspirations and goals for your artistic career moving forward? Are there any upcoming projects or exhibitions that you're particularly excited about?

"I want to keep pushing boundaries and exploring intimate and social themes like longing and belonging, immigration, and liminality. Opening more and more conversation, expanding my reach. Year 2024 looks busy already, with upcoming group and solo shows in Italy (Rome, l’Aquila, and Tuscany) and the U.S. (New York and Miami), and art fairs (Hong Kong for now, more to come). Exciting news I just received is that one of my pieces has been selected to be part of the CMI Child Mind Institute permanent collection in their new Midtown New York City location. It fills me up with joy and pride to be part of such a meaningful Project and Collection, and I’m happy to share it with Art in Res."

Explore more of Michele’s captivating work here.