Pontone Gallery is honored to present a posthumous exhibition of Italian master Ventrone's iconic still lifes and nude paintings, offering a glimpse into the mind of an artist who possessed a unique ability to see the beauty and fragility of the everyday.
Ventrone's pursuit of artistic excellence , which he claimed to be innate and unwavering from childhood, was marked by a relentless dedication to pictorial representation. Influenced by Escher and science fiction imagery, he meditatively arranged and rendered his subjects transforming them into works of art that were both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating.
His paintings are more than just representations of objects; they are explorations of light, color, and texture. Ventrone's technical virtuosity of these elements allowed him to create compositions that are both timeless and contemporary, inviting viewers to contemplate the beauty and underlying truths of the world around them.
Ventrone's paintings are imbued with a raw power that comes from his absolute control over their creation. By eliminating the visible marks of the artist's hand, he reveals a deeper, existential truth. The language of still life, as Caravaggio understood, is filled with the specters of mortality and the promise of renewal. Ventrone, with his unwavering dedication to excellence and his deep understanding of art history, continually revisits these themes in each of his captivating compositions.
Ventrone's reliance on photographic sources allowed him to capture his subjects with precise detail and physical consistency. Although his realistic technique has drawn comparisons to hyperrealism, he has always insisted that his work is rooted in abstraction. A painting, after all, is a collection of abstract elements that combine to represent something beyond itself.
This exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of Ventrone's artistic journey across the decades, showcasing his most iconic works, including three fresh-to-the-market pieces from an important private collection. It is a testament to his enduring legacy and a celebration of his remarkable talent.
This exhibition is more than just a collection of beautiful paintings; it is a journey through the mind of a true master.
