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Alessandro Pessoli on Painting, Identity, and His Exhibition 'Like a Free Life' at Xavier Hufkens

exhibition · 2026-05-04

Italian artist Alessandro Pessoli discusses his artistic evolution across Milan and Los Angeles, his use of diverse techniques, and his solo exhibition 'Like a Free Life' at Xavier Hufkens Gallery in Brussels, running until April 28, 2018. The show features only new paintings, exploring themes of freedom, ambiguity, and contemporary instability through a mix of silkscreen, stencil, and photorealistic painting. Pessoli explains how his move to Los Angeles in 2009 brightened his palette and introduced Pop Art influences. He also delves into his controversial painting 'Assassini che mangiano,' depicting Albert Speer and Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials, which sparked a racial misunderstanding at a US university. The artist reflects on his use of drawing, Instagram as a workspace, and his recent focus on self-portraits blending mechanical and anatomical forms.

Key facts

  • Alessandro Pessoli's solo exhibition 'Like a Free Life' at Xavier Hufkens Gallery in Brussels runs until April 28, 2018.
  • The exhibition features only new paintings, no sculptures or ceramics.
  • Pessoli moved to Los Angeles in 2009, which influenced his palette to become brighter and more luminous.
  • His painting 'Assassini che mangiano' depicts Albert Speer and Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials.
  • The painting caused controversy at a US university where a student misinterpreted Goering's darkened face as racist.
  • Pessoli uses techniques including silkscreen, stencil, and photorealistic painting in his recent works.
  • His work 'Note per la spesa' from 1990 is a germinal piece combining drawing, notes, and various themes.
  • Pessoli creates ceramic self-portraits that merge his face with mechanical parts like cylinders and spark plugs.

Entities

Artists

  • Alessandro Pessoli
  • Albert Speer
  • Hermann Goering
  • Mario Sironi

Institutions

  • Xavier Hufkens Gallery
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Los Angeles
  • United States
  • Brussels
  • Belgium
  • Nuremberg
  • Germany

Sources