BIO
Manuel Capaccioli (Manuel C.) is a contemporary artist born in 1999 in Arezzo, Italy, where he currently lives and works. His figurative and autobiographical paintings, created with charcoal and oil paint, explore the body as a tool for emotional and existential reflection. Known for his intimate and contemplative works, he uses the body as a vehicle for universal emotions.
Drawing inspiration from Egon Schiele, Lucian Freud, and Jenny Saville, Capaccioli’s work addresses themes such as vulnerability, solitude, and the desire for belonging. His figures often appear suspended in essential spaces, inviting viewers to engage with shared emotions. Since 2024, after working on paper and wood, he has expanded his practice to canvas, opening new expressive possibilities.
Since 2019, he has participated in group exhibitions in Venice, Turin, Milan, and Florence, as well as art fairs such as Arte Padova. In 2022–23, he presented a solo exhibition in Perugia, and in 2025 he participated in the XV Florence Biennale, with works featured in the Official Catalogue (Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori).
ARTIST STATEMENT
My painting practice explores the emotional and psychological tensions of contemporary human life, shaped by individualism, hyperconnectivity, and alienation. At the center of my work is the body—fragile yet intense—through which I transform intimate experiences into images of universal resonance.
I begin with charcoal drawings to define forms, then paint using layers of undiluted oil, building depth and volume to give strength and presence to my figures. Often inspired by my own body or face—but rarely intended as self-portraits—these figures emerge in essential spaces, suspended between reflection, disorientation, and melancholy.
I draw inspiration from early 20th-century Expressionism, particularly Egon Schiele, and from the emotional and physical investigations of Lucian Freud and Jenny Saville. My aim is to create a space of introspection where viewers can confront the tragic beauty of life and reconnect with their own humanity.
CV
Born in 1999 in Arezzo, Italy
Lives and works in Arezzo, Italy
Selected solo exhibitions:
2022/23 – Ad occhi chiusi, Galleria Area Privata, Perugia, Italy
2023 – OSD 3, Arezzo, Italy
2021 – OSD 2, Arezzo, Italy
2019 – OSD 1, Arezzo, Italy
Selected group exhibitions:
2025/26 – Emozioni d’Arte, Galleria d’arte La Zaffera, Florence, Italy
2025 – Segni, OnArt Gallery, Florence, Italy
2025 – Light and Darkness, XV Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy
2022 – Milano Art&Design Week, Passepartout Unconventional Gallery, Milan, Italy
2021 – Art Rights Prize, digital exhibition
2020 – Galleria Accorsi Arte, Turin, Italy
2020 – Galleria Accorsi Arte, Venice, Italy
Awards & Competitions:
2021 – Honorable Mention, 7th Gran Premio dell’Arte, Passepartout Unconventional Gallery, Milan, Italy
2021 – Selected for Art Rights Prize, digital exhibition
Fairs:
2021 – Fiera Arte Padova, Galleria Farini, Padova, Italy
Press & Publications:
"L’arte è vita o morte" in WEARE (2022).
Bibliography:
Official Catalogue of the XV Florence Biennale, Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori, 2025, p. 261.