Omar Galliani's First Solo Oil Painting Exhibition at Bevilacqua La Masa

Omar Galliani, the renowned Italian drawing master born in Montecchio Emilia in 1954, presents his first-ever exhibition of oil paintings at the Bevilacqua La Masa foundation in Venice. The show, titled "La Mètis dell’acqua," features works composed between 1981 and 2019, curated by Eleonora Frattarolo. The subtitle references the wisdom and cunning of water, paying homage to Venice and its defining element. The sparse installation highlights Galliani's technical skill, with pieces oscillating between historical-mythological references, Oriental symbolism, and dreamlike atmospheres. Galliani, who studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna and teaches at the Accademia di Brera, demonstrates his distinctive style—a graphite scratch or broad brushstroke that thins into a Leonardesque sfumato or refined trompe l'oeil. Works like "Il destino del nome" and "Il Pescatore di perle" evoke Renaissance themes, while "In Viaggio" captures recent travels in Iceland with Pre-Raphaelite undertones. The standout piece, "Attraverso," a sanguine female portrait, embodies Leonardo da Vinci's admonition to depict the soul through gesture. The exhibition runs at Bevilacqua La Masa in Venice.