Francesco Clemente (Italian, b.1952) reached international acclaim during the Neo-Expressionist movement in the 1980s, which emphasized an expressive return to addressing the human condition, often through depictions of the body, in painting. Born in Naples, Clemente spent his early years studying architecture at the University of Rome. In 1973, he moved to India, where he was influenced by local craftsmen, and engaged in several collaborations with Indian artists.
After moving to New York City in 1981, Clemente began a series of projects with several American artists and literary figures, including
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987),
Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960–1988), and
Allen Ginsberg (American, 1926–1997). Clemente’s work is deeply engaged with the
human body, which becomes the ultimate vehicle for expression throughout his work. In 1999, the Guggenheim Museum in New York launched a retrospective of Clemente’s work, elevating his reputation as a highly influential and international artist.