Neapolitan painter Gianni Pisani dies at 87

Gianni Pisani, a Neapolitan painter associated with expressionist and pop tendencies, died on May 5, 2022, at age 87. His wife, artist and performer Marianna Troise, announced his death on Facebook. Born in Naples in 1935, Pisani studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti under Emilio Notte and later became its director. In the 1970s, his work shifted toward a pop language while retaining expressionist roots. He was part of the Galleria Inesistente collective, which included Vincent D'Arista, Bruno Barbati, Errico Ruotolo, Maria Palliggiano, Giannetto Bravi, Maria Roccasalva, and Gerardo Di Fiore, challenging the art system. Pisani collaborated with Lucio Amelio's gallery and created works for the Salvator Rosa metro station in Naples. His works are in the Museo Madre collection. He participated three times in the Quadriennale di Roma (1960, 1965/66, 1986) and in the 1995 Venice Biennale. A major solo show was held at Castel dell'Ovo in 2003, organized with Fondazione Morra. Filmmaker Mario Franco paid tribute, recalling Pisani's transformative role at the Accademia and his concept of art as continuous exercise.