About Valerio D'Ospina
“Throughout Europe and from American coast to coast, Valerio D'Ospina's oil paintings have been recognized for actualizing what many have attempted and few have achieved, expertly capturing the metropolitan pulse.
Valerio D'Ospina began his intensive artistic studies upon moving from Taranto, Italy to Florence where he attended the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti. During his stay in Florence, he assiduously visited museums to learn the technique of the great masters and was given permission to replicate original works of art in the Palazzo Pitti Museum. After a brief immersion in the Parisian art scene, D'Ospina took a position in antique- painting restoration gaining insight into the “character” of antique paintings. D'Ospina's dedication to technique, numerous academic achievements and natural talent led him to a professorship at the young age of 27. (He successively abandoned the career as art professor to dedicate himself completely to painting).
The competency of technique and appreciation of classic approaches D'Ospina acquired through this intensive study is evident, though illustrated in his work with an original contemporary aesthetic. The artist is able to impart a truly extraordinary life and energy into his masterfully executed cityscapes and images of industry. His paintings capture such scenes as a misty New York morning glimpsed from high above, the blurred streets of Milan as seen from a speeding taxi and the aging remnants of formerly thriving industries. Consistent throughout are the distinctive streaks, scratches, splatters and washes that combine to reveal rich, though largely monochromatic, oil paintings with a dramatic movement and a life of their own [...]” ( ArtDaily)
“As if viewing cityscapes from the vantage point of a bird swooping through the sky or from the window of a speeding car, Italian artist Valerio D’Ospina sets the world in motion through quick and expressive brushstrokes. The artist imbues the streets of Italy, New York, and Paris with a bold sense of energy that can appear both exciting and foreboding, depending on your perspective. D’Ospina also finds beauty in industrial transportation, specifically oil tankers and old locomotives that lumber into rail yards or sit docked in harbors with a captivating sense of dignity [...]” (Colossal)
“We’ve seen cityscapes in many different ways — photos, videos and sketches – and now we’re seeing cityscapes in a whole new way. Using oil on canvas, artist Valerio D’Ospina paints up blurry, yet sometimes surprisingly detailed cityscapes and urban scenes that portray the life and vivacity of modern, dramatic cities. His work is characterized by forceful lines and bold bird’s eye views that take the viewer on quite a ride [...]” (Design Milk)
“[…] D’Ospina's oil paintings are truly masterful. D’Ospina's talent is no surprise, as he's been on the creative scene since 1999 [...]” (Juxtapoz)
His work has been featured in prominent art magazines, online platforms, has been the subject of art lectures in universities and academies of fine art all over the world and has been published in fine art textbooks. D’Ospina’s work has also been acquired by significant corporate and private collections as well as international modern and contemporary art museum collections.
Education
Artistic High School Diploma: Liceo Artistico Statale “Lisippo” in Taranto, Italy (July 1999) BFA: Accademia di Belle Arti, Florence, Italy (1999‐2005)
Degree: Painting, maximum score Cum Laude
Graduate School Diploma: Accademia di Belle Arti, Florence, Italy (2006‐2008)
Degree: Completed the COBASLID entitling all of the requirements to teach as a professor at all levels (equivalent to a MFA)
Exhibition Record
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023 "Concrete", Gallery 1261, Denver CO
2019 "Foundations", Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia PA
2018 "Patina of Energy", The Haen Gallery, Asheville NC
2016 "Transient Glance", Mike Wright Gallery, Denver CO
2015 "Quadri d'olio e di cemento, un viaggio tra le icone del passato e le citta' del presente", Barbara Frigerio Gallery, Milan, Italy
2014 "Valerio D'Ospina", Mike Wright Gallery, Denver CO
2013 “Valerio D’Ospina”, Mason Murer Gallery, Atlanta GA
2012 “Valerio D’Ospina 2009‐2011”, Christine Frechard Gallery, Pittsburgh PA
2012 “Unknown”, Zadok Gallery, Miami FL
Two Person Exhibitions
2021 "Singular Duality", Valerio D'Ospina & Angela D'Ospina, Haen Gallery, Asheville NC
2017 "Architectural Forms", Valerio D'Ospina & Greg Gandy, Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA
2015 "Tempo and Pause", Valerio D'Ospina & Greg Gandy, Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA
2014 "Urban Beat", with Jeremy Mann, CH Gallery, Healdsburg, CA
2012 “Archimovement”, HallSpassov Gallery, Bellevue, WA
2010 “The New Metropolis”, Skotia Gallery, Santa Fe NM, USA
2010 “Andrey Petrov & Valerio D’Ospina”, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Art Fairs, Biennals, Group Exhibitions and Prizes
2022 "The Inventors", Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia PA
2021 "Disrupted Realism", curated by John Seed, Principle Gallery, Alexandria PA
2021 "Small Works", Principle Gallery, Alexandrai VA
2018 "ART EXPO NY", Stanek Gallery, Booth 349, New York, NY
2018 "Spaces", Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2018 "Disrupted Realism", curated by John Seed, Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 "City in Motion", Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 "Bloom", Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
2017 "Seven", Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 "New Works", Mike Wright Gallery, Denver, CO
2016 "The Invisible", Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
2016 "Springtide", Haen Gallery, Asheville, NC
2015 "Summer Salon Show", Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
2015 "Inspirational Forms", Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
2015 "Le tre anime della citta'", Jeremy Mann - Valerio D'Ospina - Daniele Cestari, Galleria Arte Totale, Pietrasanta, Italy
2015 "Forces of Nature", One Art Space, New York City, NY
2014 "Summer show", Barbara Frigerio Gallery, Milan, Italy
2014 "Summer salon show", Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
2014 "What Is Your Favorite City", Bonner David Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
2013 “The City Abstracted”, Hubert Gallery NY
2013 "International Masters of Fine Art", Invitational show, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio TX
2012 “AAF Seattle”, art fair HallSpassov Gallery booth, Seattle, WA
2012 “Streets”, gallery artists group show, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2012 “Group Exhibition”, gallery artists group show, Hallway Gallery, WA
2011 “1st Opening in LA”, Skotia Gallery, Culver City, CA
2011 “USArtists”, Artfair PAFA, Philadelphia, PA.
2011 “The Back Room”, Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.
2011 “PREJA‐VU”, The Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
2011 “LA Art Show”, Artfair Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA.
2010 “Drawings Exhibition”, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA.
2010 “Naked”, Skotia Gallery, Santa Fe NM, USA.
2008 “Intimità Quotidiane”, Galleria Geo Arte Contemporanea, Bari, Italy.
2005 “Espressioni dell’Arte”, Masseria Belmonte, Crispiano (TA), Italy.
2004 “Profezie di Bellezza 4”, Caffè Storico‐Letterario Giubbe Rosse, Florence,Italy.
2004 “Alchimie Urbane”, Villa Comunale “Peripato”, Taranto, Italy.
2004 “4 art”, Aragonese Castle, Taranto, Italy.
2004 “3rd Premio Internazionale Biennale d’Incisione”, La Spirale Centre Culturel "Le Toboggan" Décines‐
Charpieu (Lyon), France.
2003 “3rd Premio Internazionale Biennale d’Incisione”, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Etching and print‐making exhibited alongside Georges Rouault and Giorgio De Chirico, Villa Rnatico Martini, Monsummano Terme, Pistoia, Italy.
2003 “Profezie di bellezza 3”, Caffè Giubbe Rosse, Florence, Italy.
2003 “Omaggio a Mario Mariotti”, Limonaia di Villa Strozzi, Firenze, Italy.
2002 “Profezie di bellezza 2”, Caffè Giubbe Rosse, Florence, Italy.
2001 “Profezie di bellezza”, Giubbe Rosse, Florence, Italy.
1999 “1st Prize Hippodrome”, Ippodromo di Taranto, Italy.