By Anne Leader
Happy Birthday Francesco Clemente! Born on 23 March 1952 in Naples, Clemente studied architecture in Rome at the Università degli Studi ‘La Sapienza’ in the early 1970s. He was drawn to avant-garde artists working in Rome and began drawing recollections of childhood dreams. He had his first solo show at Rome’s Galleria Giulia in 1971. He divides his time among homes in Madras, New York, and Rome.
Reference: “Clemente, Francesco.“ Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press.
Francesco Clemente in San Francisco holding his self-portrait at Nash Editions, 1991
Symbolon 1977 Ink on paper 6 x 8 3/16 in 15.3 x 20.8 cm
Twins 1978 Ink, gouache, and colored pencil on paper, mounted on linen 93 x 59 in 236.2 x 149.9 cm
Hunger 1980 Gouache on handmade Pondicherry paper, joined with handwoven cotton strips 96 ½ x 93 ½ in 245.1 x 237.5 cm
Allen Ginsberg 1982-1987 Watercolor on paper 14 x 20 in 36.2 x 50.8 cm
Keith Haring 1982-1987 Watercolor on paper 14 x 20 in 36.2 x 50.8 cm
Name 1983 Oil on canvas 77 15/16 x 92 15/16 in 198 x 236 cm
Seed 1991 Tempera on linen 24 x 24 in 61 x 61 cm
Birthday Self-Portrait 2001 Mixed media on jeans fabric 163 3/8 x 173 5/8 in 415 x 441 cm
Self-Portrait as St. James 2011 Oil on canvas 48 x 43 in 121.9 x 109.2 cm