About the Artist
ENGLISH
Michele Del Campo grew up in San Nicandro Garganico, a small town in southern Italy. Isolated in the countryside, he would spend his time drawing and cycling long distances, when not at school. When he was 18 his family moved to Milan, and after beginning to study Fine Arts, disappointed with the learning, at the age of 20 he began a pilgrimage which led him to live in many places around the world. After studying Illustration in Falmouth (England) and then Dundee (Scotland) he went to Madrid (Spain) where he resumed his studies in Fine Arts and at the same time he began exhibiting in art galleries. In 2006 he won the most prestigeous painting prize in Spain, the “Premio BMW”, and in 2007 he finished his Master of Fine Arts.
In 2008 he moved to London, where he had several solo exhibitions, and in 2016 to Glasgow (Scotland). In this city, where there is hardly any of the sun that he grew up with, and while he was preparing solo exhibitions for international galleries in Lima (Perú), Madrid (Spain) or San Francisco (USA), he decided there was no point in struggling to find a good artist studio and commit to spending years in the same place. He stopped accumulating objects, got rid of possessions and began to travel and paint wherever he was, and then take the rolled-up canvases to the galleries with which he collaborated. In 2017 he began to travel with two suitcases and a tube for the canvases, where he captured the inspiration found in each place. In 2023 Del Campo moved to Miami. Del Campo has had solo shows in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, London, Milan, Lugano, Lima, San Francisco and Dallas, and has participated in group shows and art fairs in Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America.
In his art, locations remain unidentifiable, as he frequently blends aspects from one city with those of another. Instead, his primary emphasis lies on individuals, their narratives, connections, and emotions, which surpass geographical boundaries and manifest in a more extensive human encounter.
He paints people his friends and family, and the people he meets in his travels, and fondly cultivates his circle without borders. His paintings, far from simply seeking to capture a resemblance with his sitters or the reality as it is, strive to construct a narrative. He gets inspiration from the stories of his sitters, to speak about the uprooting, the zest for life, the solitude and the awareness of the ephemeral.
In his recent paintings, he's transcending realism, crafting compositions that embody fragments of a reality formed by diverse moments and places. This connection mirrors the way we engage with images nowadays.
ESPAÑOL
Michele Del Campo creció en San Nicandro Garganico, un pequeño pueblo del sur de Italia. Aislado en el campo, pasaba su tiempo dibujando y recorriendo largas distancias en bicicleta, cuando no estaba en la escuela. Cuando tenía 18 años su familia se trasladó a Milán, y allí, tras empezar a estudiar Bellas Artes, decepcionado con la enseñanza, a los 20 años inició un peregrinaje que le llevó a vivir por muchos lugares del mundo. Tras estudiar Ilustración en Falmouth (Inglaterra) y luego en Dundee (Escocia) se trasladó a Madrid (España) donde retomó sus estudios de Bellas Artes y al mismo tiempo comenzó a exponer en galerías de arte. En 2006 ganó el premio de pintura más prestigioso de España, el “Premio BMW”, y en 2007 finalizó el Máster en Bellas Artes.
En 2008 se trasladó a Londres, donde realizó varias exposiciones individuales, y en 2016 a Glasgow (Escocia). Fue en esta ciudad, donde apenas hay el sol con el que creció, y mientras preparaba exposiciones individuales para galerías internacionales en Lima, Madrid o San Francisco, decidió que no tenía sentido luchar por encontrar un buen estudio de artista. y comprometerse a pasar años en el mismo lugar. Dejó de acumular objetos, se deshizo de posesiones y empezó a viajar y pintar dondequiera que estuviera, para luego llevar los lienzos enrollados a las galerías con las que colaboraba. En 2017 comenzó a viajar con dos maletas y un tubo para los lienzos, donde plasmó la inspiración que encontraba en cada lugar. En 2023 Del Campo se mudó a Miami. Del Campo ha realizado exposiciones individuales en Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Londres, Milán, Lugano, Lima, San Francisco y Dallas, y ha participado en muestras colectivas y ferias de arte en Europa, Asia, Estados Unidos y Latinoamérica.
En su arte, los lugares siguen siendo inidentificables, ya que frecuentemente mezcla aspectos de una ciudad con los de otra. En cambio, su énfasis principal reside en los individuos, sus narrativas, conexiones y emociones, que superan las fronteras geográficas y se manifiestan en un encuentro humano más extenso.
Pinta a sus amigos y familiares, y a las personas que conoce en sus viajes, y cultiva con cariño su círculo sin fronteras. Sus pinturas, lejos de simplemente buscar capturar un parecido con sus modelos o la realidad tal como es, se esfuerzan por construir una narrativa. Se inspira en las historias de sus modelos para hablar sobre el desarraigo, el gusto por la vida, la soledad y la conciencia de lo efímero.
En sus pinturas recientes, trasciende el realismo y crea composiciones que encarnan fragmentos de una realidad formada por diversos momentos y lugares. Esta conexión refleja la forma en que nos relacionamos con las imágenes hoy en día.
Curriculum
Born in 1976 in Sannicandro Garganico (Italy)
Works in Miami
EDUCATION
2007 MFA, Universidad Complutense, Madrid
2006 Fine Arts Degree, Universidad Complutense, Madrid
2001 Bachelor of Design (Honours) Degree in Illustration and Printmaking, University of Dundee, UK
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Immigration Stories from Florida Artists, Arts and Culture Centre Hollywood, FL, USA
2023 Bailey Contemporary Arts Centre, Pompano Beach, FL, USA
2021 Ron Hall Gallery, Dallas, TX, USA
2020 Almas Nómadas Galería Ansorena, Madrid, Spain
2019 Untold Stories- The Contemporary Figurative Paintings of Hollis Dunlap and Michele Del Campo, CK
Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, USA
2018 Galería Ansorena, Madrid, Spain
2017 Mind Wanderers Galería Enlace Arte Contemporáneo, Lima, Peru
Way Out and Back" Palazzetto dell'Arte, Foggia, Italy
2015 The Fall, Westminster Reference Library, London, UK
2013 Stranded and Adrift, Alpha Gallery, London, UK
2012 The Silent Noise of Water, Imago Art Gallery, Lugano, Switzerland
2011 Viaje de no retorno, Galería Enlace Arte Contemporáneo, Lima, Peru
2010 Close Strangers, Mark Jason Gallery, London, UK
2008 Urban Chic, Mark Jason Gallery, London, UK
2007 Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
2006 Gente di mare, Galería Fernando Alcolea, Barcelona, Spain
2005 Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
Galería Fernando Alcolea, Barcelona, Spain
2004 Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
Galería American Prints, Valencia, Spain
1998 Villa Zoya, Concorezzo, Milan, Italy
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Animals, Art and Culture Centre Hollywood
2023 Figurativas, MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain
2018 Context Art Miami, Galería Ansorena
2017 Context Art Miami, Galería Ansorena
2016 London Art Fair, Mark Jason Gallery
2015 Anthology, Aesthetica Art Prize, York, UK
Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK
Colectiva de Verano, Galería Ansorena, Madrid, Spain
AAF Hong Kong, Mark Jason Gallery
2014 AAF New York, Mark Jason Gallery
Patchings Art Festival, Nottingham
Art in Action, Oxford, UK
2013 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK
Asia Contemporary Art Show Hong Kong, Galería Jorge Alcolea
2012 Royal Society of Marine Artist Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK
Ten Paths to the Future, Imago Art Gallery, London, UK
Once pintores realistas + 1, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
ArtMadrid, Galería Jorge Alcolea
2011 Summer Exhibition, Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
Premio BMW de Pintura, Winning paintings 1986-2010, Casa de Vacas del Parque del Retiro, Madrid
2010 Captured, Catmose Gallery, Oakham, Rutland, UK
Originals10, Mall Galleries, London, UK
London Art Fair, Mark Jason Gallery
Art Chicago, Mark Jason Gallery
AAF New York, Mark Jason Gallery
ArtLondon, Mark Jason Gallery
2009 Threadneedle Art Prize, Mall Galleries, London, UK
London Art Fair, Mark Jason Gallery
AAF New York, Mark Jason Gallery
Art in Action Oxford
Buy Art Manchester, ArtLounge Gallery
ArtLondon, Mark Jason Gallery
2008 Urban Chic, FRINGEMK Project Spaces, Milton Keynes, UK
London Art Fair, Mark Jason Gallery
MIART Milan, Galería Jorge Alcolea
ArtLondon, Mark Jason Gallery
Art in Action Oxford
2007 Ideas sobre diarios, Faculty of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain
Premios BMW de Pintura, obras ganadoras 1986-2006, Granada, Spain
MIART Milan, Galería Jorge Alcolea
ArtLondon, Mark Jason Gallery
2006 Gran Formato, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
AAF London, Mark Jason Gallery
AAF New York, Mark Jason Gallery
Estampa Madrid, Museo del Grabado de San Clemente
ArtLondon, Mark Jason Gallery
2005 Spagna il colore della passione, Milan, San Donato Milanese and Trento, Italy
72º Salón de Otoño, Madrid, Spain
X Certamen Unipublic de Pintura Deportiva, Oviedo and Las Rozas, Spain
XIII National Printmaking Prizes 2004, MGEC Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo, Marbella
Scope New York, Galería Jorge Alcolea
Estampa Madrid, Galería Jorge Alcolea
2004 Gran Formato, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
Extraordinaria de verano, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
XVI Premio de Pintura Fundación Amigos de Madrid, Museum of the City, Madrid, Spain
2003 70º Salón de Otoño, Madrid, Spain
Extraordinaria de verano, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
Pequeño formato, Galería Gema Lazcano, Madrid, Spain
Small Sizes, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Madrid, Spain
X Premio Nacional de Grabado, MGEC Museo Español de Grabado Contemporáneo and CAAS Centro
Andaluz de Arte Seriado, Alcalá la Real, Spain
2002 Tentaciones, Estampa 2002, Madrid, Spain
Premio Arte 2002, Museo della Permante, Milan, Italy
2001 New Designers, Business Design Centre, London, UK
Realtà Riflesse, Basilica di San Celso, Milan, Italy
1997 Menotrenta, Spazio Hayek, Milan, Italy
AWARDS
2023 “Artist Innovation Grant” Cultural Division of the Broward County, Florida, USA
Artist in Residence at Bailey Contemporary Arts Centre, Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
2016 "Oil Painters of America Award" in ARC International Salon Competition, US
Finalist The Artist's Magazine Art Prize
2015 Grand Prize "All Media" Art Competition, The Artist's magazine, US
Third Prize at "Pintar Rápido", London
Chroma Prize, Patchings Open Art Competition, Calverton, UK
Longlisted at Aesthetica Art Prize, Aesthetica magazine, York (UK)
Finalist in the International 2014/15 Art Renewal Centre (ARC) Salon, Figurative Category
Finalist The Artist's Magazine Art Prize
2014 Royal Talens Prize, Patchings Open Competition, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, UK
Finalist at International 2013/14 Art Renewal Centre (ARC) Salon, Figurative and Still Life categories, US
The Artist's Exhibition Prize, Patchings Open Competition, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, UK
Third prize in the Art Event Evening, Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
Mall Galleries, London
2013 Joint Second prize in the Art Event Evening, Annual Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
Mall Galleries, London
2012 Winner of Winsor and Newton Oil Prize, Royal Society of Marine Artists, Mall Galleries, London
First prize Premios Luces to the Best Solo Exhibition of the Year in Peru, Lima
2009 Selected in the Threadneedle Art Prize, Mall Galleries, London
2008 Third Price Best of the Best, Art in Action, Oxford
2006 First Price XXI Premio BMW de Pintura
2005 First price X Certamen Unipublic de Pintura Deportiva, Madrid
First Printmaking Prize Espina y Capo, 72º Salón de Otoño, Madrid
2003 First prize XIV Premio de Pintura Rápida Fiestas del Pilar, Madrid
Second prize Premio Nacional de pintura X aniversario Universidad de Huelva, Spain
Third prize VIII Premio Unipublic de pintura deportiva, Madrid
2002 First prize, Certamen de Pintura XXV Aniversario de C. E. V. Valencia
Selected in the Premio Arte 2002, Museo della Permante, Milan
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2020. Exhibition catalogue, Almas nómadas, Galería Ansorena, Madrid
2019. Book Michele Del Campo Paintings 2003-2019, La Fábrica de Libros, Gijón
2018. Exhibition catalogue, Michele Del Campo, Lorena Pizarro Durán, Galería Ansorena, Madrid
2018. New Places, Fresh Ideas, The Artist magazine, Dec 2018, UK
2018. Jóvenes Urbanos, Descubrir El Arte, April, Spain
2017. Exhibition catalogue, Mind Wanderers, Corinna Lotz, Enlace Arte Contemporáneo, Lima, Peru
2017. A Modern Canvas for Professionals. The Artist magazine, Summer, UK
2016. Falling for Art, The Artist magazine, April, UK
2015. People and places, The Artist magazine, October, UK
2015. The Artist magazine, September (with cover), UK
2015. All Media Art Competition Grand Prize Winner The Artist's magazine, Jul-Aug, US
2015. Book Anthology, Aesthetica Art Prize, York
2015. The Artistic Journey, The Artist magazine, April, UK
2015. Hedge magazine, Melissa Scallan, February, UK
2015. Michele Del Campo artista dell'anno, Londra Sera weekly newspaper, n.3-2015 (with cover)
2015. Multiple Figures Artists and Illustrators magazine, Michele Del Campo, February, UK
2015. Composing from Photos Artists and Illustrators magazine, Michele Del Campo, January, UK
2014. Book Masters of Realistic Imagery, Whois Publisher, 2014, Germany
2013. Arte en el descampado, Levante newspaper, Adriá Calatayud, 15-8-2013, Spain
2013. Serendipity magazine, interview by Christina Lambert, Summer, Vol.3 Issue 1, UK
2013. Journey of no Return, The Artist magazine, Michele Del Campo, UK, January 2013 (with cover)
2012. Street View, Egoista magazine, Portugal, December 2012
2012. interview, Poets and Artists magazine, June, US
2012. Michele Del Campo, Lunderos supplement to La Industria newspaper, by Jorge Bernuy, Peru, Feb. (with cover)
2011. Europa y el futuro incierto, El Comercio newspaper, November, Peru
2011. Exhibition catalogue Michele Del Campo Painter of His Time by Jorge Bernuy, October, Peru
2010 Michele Del Campo, Poets and Artists magazine, October, US
2010. Michele Del Campo, Galleries magazine, by Corinna Lotz, July, UK
2010. Close Strangers, Art of England magazine, by Ben Austin, July, UK
2010. My studio, Artists and Illustrators magazine, by Steve Pill, July, UK
2010. Beautiful People, The Artist magazine, by Oliver Lange, March, UK (with cover)
2008. Summer in the City, Artists & Illustrators magazine, by Lynn Parr, September, UK (with cover)
2008. Urban Chic, Art of England magazine, October, UK
2007. exhibition catalogue, Michele Del Campo, Edward Lucie-Smith, Galería Jorge Alcolea, December, Spain
2007. L’estate in città. Giovane, spensierata, anonima, Arte magazine, Pia Capelli, December, Italy
2005. Todos los días, exhibition catalogue, Giuseppe Musicco, Galería Jorge Alcolea, Spain, Dec. 2005
2004. Michele Del Campo, Madrid Alto Standing magazine, Emanuela Petri, Autumn, Spain
2004. Le città invisibili, Arte magazine, Maurizio Sciaccaluga, July, Italy