Paolo Chiezzi

Art inspires me because it is a language without words, a universal form of communication made of shapes, colors, and emotions that can speak directly to anyone. I have always been drawn to this silent dialogue, where meaning doesn’t rely on sentences but on perception, feeling, and imagination.

Oil painting is my favorite medium because it allows me to express this visual language with depth and nuance. Its richness, the slow drying time, the subtle blending, the luminosity gives me the freedom to build images that carry both realism and emotion. Oil paint lets me say things that words never fully could.

My style, which I describe as emotional iporealism, grows from a desire to simplify reality without losing its essence. I intentionally reduce or soften the portions of the scene that fall into my peripheral view. This simplification introduces an abstract quality when viewed up close: marks and forms that appear loose, minimal, or suggestive. Yet as the viewer steps back, these simplified shapes merge into a convincing, realistic image. The mind instinctively completes what I leave unsaid. In this way, the viewer becomes an essential partner in the illusion, making the final experience more immersive and personal.

Through this approach, I aim to create paintings that feel immediate and open; realistic in approach yet distilled to their essence. My work is a quiet conversation between artist and viewer, where the power of the image comes not only from what I paint, but from the space I leave for others to enter.

Awards

Third Place, 2017 Fall Portrait Exhibition PSA, Juror: Michele Rushworth

First Place, 2015 Winter Portrait Exhibition PSA, Juror: Michael Shane Neal

Third Place, 2014 Summer Exhibition of Members PSA, Juror: Rose Franzen

Honorable Mention, 2013 Winter Exhibition PSA, Juror: Tony Pro        

Members Choice, 2012 Summer Exhibition PSA, Juror: James Schell

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