Chia, Sandro

Sandro Chia is an Italian painter and prominent figure in the Italian neo-Expressionist movement Transavanguardia. Chia’s paintings and sculptures are often brilliantly colored, mystical compositions featuring symbolism and aggregate mark-making, offering insight into contemporary social and political life through the formal language of Expressionism. Born on April 20, 1946 in Florence, Italy, he went on to study at the Accademia di Bella Arte in his home city and began exhibiting following his move to Rome. Describing his practice as “mythical Conceptual Art,” Chia’s paintings gained the attention of the international art world alongside his peers Francesco Clemente and Enzo Cucchi. He took part at documenta 7 in Kassel in 1980, and subsequently exhibited his work throughout Europe. His work has been shown at the Tate Modern in London and at the Venice Biennale, and can be found in permanent installations at Palio Bar on West 51st Street in New York City and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Israel, among others.