Velasco Vitali, born in 1960 in Bellano on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, is a contemporary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, and illustration. The son of painter Giancarlo Vitali, Velasco began painting in his childhood, largely self-taught and deeply influenced by his artistic lineage. His career took a definitive turn with his encounter with Giovanni Testori, which led to his participation in the exhibition Artisti e Scrittori at Rotonda della Besana. Vitali's early work was marked by important solo exhibitions, including those curated by Vittorio Sgarbi in 1985-1986 and Marco Vallora in 1987. These formative years established him as a painter with a raw, sharp, and simultaneously visionary and dreamlike representation of natural and urban landscapes. His unique style has earned him recognition as one of the leading Italian contemporary artists. The late 1980s brought a pivotal moment in Vitali's artistic journey. The tragedy that struck Valtellina, a flood that caused widespread destruction, deeply affected him. His response was an intense investigation into the cancellation and reconstruction of the landscape, culminating in the exhibition "Paesaggio Cancellato," curated by Roberto Tassi in 1990. This work showcased Vitali's ability to engage with contemporary issues through his art, a theme that would continue throughout his career. In the 1990s, Vitali's exploration of the Mediterranean and southern Italy's ports led to significant collaborations and exhibitions. "Isolitudine," created with Ferdinando Scianna in 2000, and "MIXtura," with Franco Battiato in 2003, were notable projects from this period. These works reflected his ongoing reflection on isolation and the complex interplay of landscapes and human presence. The turn of the millennium saw the publication of "Velasco 20," a monograph on the artist's first twenty years of work, featuring contributions from Giulio Giorello. The "Extramoenia" exhibition in 2004-2005, organized by the Region of Sicily, was held in Palermo and Milan, further solidifying his reputation. In 2005, his work was included in the collection of the MACRO in Rome, a testament to his growing influence in the contemporary art scene. Vitali's collaborations with curators such as Danilo Eccher led to exhibitions like "Immagini, forme e natura delle Alpi" in 2007 and "LATO4" in 2008. His work "Sbarco," curated by Fernando Mazzocca and Francesco Poli in 2010, was displayed in prominent public spaces in Milan, including Piazza Duomo and the Palazzo Reale. The year 2011 was marked by Vitali's invitation to the Italian Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, where he exhibited "Veidrodis." His solo show "Branco" was hosted by LKFF Gallery in Brussels, and Skira published "Apriti Cielo," a volume featuring his watercolors on the theme of the sacred. These works included drawings made for the culture section of Il Corriere della Sera, a newspaper he has been associated with since 2007. In 2012, Vitali created "Foresta Rossa," an art intervention on Isola Madre and in Verbania, curated by Luca Molinari. This project continued his engagement with environmental themes, a constant in his work. The following years saw a series of exhibitions and installations, including "Fuga" in 2015, curated by Mark Gisbourne and Giacinto di Pietrantonio, and "Time Out" in 2017, designed and curated in collaboration with Peter Greenaway. Vitali's work has been featured in private and public collections, including the Italian Vittoriale, the Farnesina Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the MACRO in Rome. His engagement with the landscape extended to the Cinque Terre, where he created art prints highlighting the fragility of the paths and the need for preservation. In recent years, Vitali has continued to exhibit widely, with shows like "Veduta" at M77 Gallery in Milan in 2019 and "416 città fantasma nel mondo" at Triennale di Milano. His sculptures have been displayed at the Vittoriale degli Italiani and Castello Ruffo di Scilla, among other venues. His work "Sbarco" was presented in two versions at the new PART museum in Rimini and at the Mole Antonelliana. Vitali's contributions to the art world are not limited to his visual art; he has also been involved in film, as evidenced by his invitation to the Berlinale in 2015 as the producer and protagonist of a documentary. His ongoing projects include collaborations with the Giovanni Falcone Foundation on "Spazi Capaci - Comunità Capaci," a project featuring a monumental intervention in the bunker hall of the Ucciardone prison in Palermo. Throughout his career, Velasco Vitali has demonstrated a profound ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether through the haunting beauty of his landscapes or the poignant commentary of his installations. His work remains a vital part of the contemporary Italian art scene, as he continues to challenge and inspire with his artistic vision.

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