Francesco Agresti

First do what is necessary

Then what is possible

And be amazed with the impossible

– St. Francis of Assisi

Stella Maris

Acrylic on canvas

48″ x 72″

The paintings, drawings, and mixed media work of Francesco Agresti bring a unique lyricism to a wide variety of subject matter – from realistic portraits and landscapes to thoroughly abstract yet highly emotive compositions. Francesco draws from numerous techniques and visual approaches he has mastered in over 40 years of full-time dedication to fine art to produce a truly original body of work that defies stylistic categorization.

Untitled

32″ x 48″ acrylic on canvas

Blue Autumn

Acrylic on canvas

32″ x 48″

Sundance

Acrylic on canvas

32″ x 48″

Autumn By The Sea

Oil, wax an acrylic on canvas

40″ x 60″

Slow Falling

Oil and wax on acrylic

36″x48″

Sea Oats & Wild Flowers

Oil and wax over acrylic

40″x60″

For the First Time Again

Oil on canvas

40″x60″

Dragonfly

Oil and acrylic

36″x60″

Deep Day

Oil and wax

48″x34″

Daphne in the Mist

Oil and acrylic

48″x72″

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Now available for commissions, exhibitions, showings.

Exhibitions

2017-present Gallery Vibe, Naples, Florida

2014-2017 Gallery Du Soleil, Naples, Florida

2011-2014 Gallery Z, Providence, Rhode Island

2007-2010 Frary Gallery, Sarasota, Florida

2006 Aaron Gallery, Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.

2006 Marziart, Hamburg, Germany

2006 Tamarack Galleries, Naples, Florida

2005-2006 Collectors Wall, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, Florida

2006 Abbacino Galleria, Venice, Florida

2005 Art Institute and Gallery of Salisbury Maryland

14th Annual National Juried Show, Juror – Stephen Haller of Stephen Haller Gallery

2005 Art Center Sarasota, Annual Exhibition, Sarasota, Florida

2005 Galerie frei Raum, Werke auf Papier “Zwischen Zwei Welten”

August 10, 2005 – September 17, 2005, Lohfelden, Kassel, Germany,

2005 Rathausfoyer Lohfelden, Werke auf Papier, “Roma – New York Connection”

One person show, March 23, 2005 – May 4, 2005, Kassel, Germany

2003 Southeastern Center For Contemporary Art, Drawings and Sketches

Community Exhibit Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC

2003 Sawtooth Center Associated Artists Gallery, Exhibiting Member Show, Winston-Salem NC

2002 Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem State University, Fine Arts Faculty, Belinda Tate, Curator

2001-2002 Waterworks Visual Arts Center, 11th Annual Regional Exhibition

The Work of NC Artists, Salisbury, NC

2001 University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art, “A Question of Faith”

The College of Education of the University of Northern Iowa

Juror – Eleanor Heartney

2001 AAWS Gallery, “Sense of Place”, Sawtooth Visual Arts Center, Winston-Salem, NC

2001 AAWS & Milton Rhodes Galleries, “Expressions of Light”, Winston-Salem, NC

2001 Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Georgia

1999-2001 North Carolina A&T State University, Faculty

2001 Arts Council of Winston-Salem, Mayor’s Office, City Hall

2000 R. J. Reynolds Gallery, “Transcending Space & Time”, Associated Artists of Winston-Salem

2000 Rhodes Gallery, “Personalities”, Associated Artists of NC

2000 Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL

2000 “Dimensions 2000”, “The Art of the New Millennium”, Juror – Nancy Dahlstrom

35th Annual National Juried Art Competition, Winston-Salem, NC

1999-2000 YWCA “Grids, Gates, Venus”, 20 Years Retrospective, Winston-Salem, NC

1999 XI Edizione Del Porticato Gaetano, Gaeta, Italy

1999 Piedmont Club, Winston-Salem, NC

1999 Atrium II Gallery, Portsmouth, VA

1999 H.C. Taylor Gallery, Faculty Show

1998 Rhodes Gallery, Sawtooth Visual Arts Center Faculty Show, Winston-Salem, NC

1998 J. Paul Sticht Center, Bowman Gray School, One Person Show, Winston-Salem, NC

1998 Arts Council Boardroom Group Show, Winston-Salem, NC

1997-1998 Babcock International Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

1997 United Way Arts Show, Winston-Salem, NC

1997 RJR Gallery, Sawtooth Visual Arts Center, Winston-Salem, NC

1997 Yonkers Educational Center, (One Person), Yonkers, NY, Frank Dituri, Curator

1993 Decimo Porticato Gaetano, Castello Angioino, Gaeta, Italy

1993 Assessorato Alla Cultura Comune Di Lenola, Lenola, Italy

1991 Gallery Sterling Europea, Fondi, Italy

1991 Chiostro di San Francesco, including work by Salvador Dali, Fondi, Italy

1991 West Room Gallery, “Maltempo”, (One Person), Yonkers, NY, Frank Dituri, Curator

1991 Galleria Punto Arte, (Group), Fondi, Italy

1991 Assessorato Alla Cultura, Comune di Pescara, Italy

1990-1991 Sterling Europea, Fondi, Italy

1991-1993 Galleria Punto Arte, Fondi, Italy

1988-1993 Markel/Sears Fine Arts, Inc., Soho, New York, NY

1986-1987 The Kathryn Markel Gallery, 57th & Madison Ave., New York, NY

1981 Bronx Museum of the Arts, “Emerging Artists”, Bronx, NY

1979 MoMA PS1, Queens, New York City, NY

1979 Lehman Gallery, “14 Painters”, City University of New York, NY

1978 H. H. Lehman Gallery, Agresti- Bellinger, City University Of New York, NY

Curriculum Vitae of Francesco Agresti

2005 – Present Full time painter and Teaching at Venice Art Center

2002- 2004 Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown NC Faculty Full Time Associate Professor of Art Art History I and II, Art Appreciation, Design I and II, Drawing I and II

2001 – 2002 Winston Salem State University , W-S, NC Instructor Winston Salem Adjunct Faculty Art History , Drawing I

1998 ~ 2001 N C A & T State University, Greensboro, NC Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art Design I & II, Color Theory, Painting Materials and Techniques, Basic Drawing and Composition

1994 ~ 1998 Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC Instructor Design I & II, Color Theory, Painting I & II, Drawing I, Advanced Drawing, Art History I, Life Drawing Fashion

1989 ~ 1992 University of La Verne, Naples, Italy Instructor Oil Painting, Drawing, Technique & Materials, Watercolor, Fundamentals of Design, Independent Studies at 200+ Levels, Drawing & Painting Interdependency

1997 ~ 1998 Sawtooth Visual Arts Center (Evening Sessions) Alternative Teaching: Acrylic & Oil Painting

1997~1998 Forsyth County Schools (Summer Art Honors Program) Alternative Teaching: Abstract / Conceptual Drawing & Painting

Fall 1997 Forsyth Technical Community College Alternative Teaching: Art Appreciation

Membership:

Exhibiting member, “Associated Artists of Winston-Salem” Co-chair Exhibiting Member Jury Committee 1997-1999 Exhibiting Jury Committee 1999-2001

Sarasota Associated Artists,Sarasota FL

Venice Cultural Arts Center ,Venice FL

Workshops & Seminars:

CAROLINA ARTISTS GUILD WESTERN GUILD SEMINAR Technique of Classical Painting: weekend painting workshop

“ AN ARTIST APPROACH TO THE CREATIVE SEASON OF EASTER” A series of four presentations at Saint Timothy’s Church in Winston-Salem,NC. Taught in conjunction with Dr. Beatrice Bruteau. PH.D.

“ART HISTORY FROM THE BYZANTINE TO THE CONTEMPORARY” Fellowship of the Trinity, Winston-Salem, NC

Education:

City University of New York, New York, NY

H.H. Lehman College Master of Fine Art ~ 1977 Bachelor of Fine Arts ~ 1972

Professional Representation:

1990 ~ 1991 Sterling Europea, Fondi Italy

1991 ~ 1993 Galleria Punto Arte , Fondi, Italy

1988 ~ 1993 Markel/Sears Fine Arts, Inc., Soho New York, NY

1986 ~ 1987 The Kathryn Markel Gallery , 57th& Madison Ave. New York, NY

Exhibitions:

2005 Rathausfoyer Lohfelden-Kassel-Germany

Werke auf Papier ,”Roma-New York-Connection”,

One person show

2003 Community Exhibit Gallery, Southeastern Center For Contemporary Art Drawings and Sketches, Exhibiting Members Associated Artists, W-S N C

Associated Artists Gallery Exhibiting Member Show, Sawtooth Building, W-S NC

2002 Diggs Gallery Winston Salem State University Fine Arts Faculty Showcase Curator Belinda Tate

2001 -02

11TH Annual Regional Exhibition The Work of NC Artists Waterworks Visual Arts Center, Salisbury NC

2001 UNI Gallery of Art,The College of Education of the University of

Northern Iowa “ A Question of Faith” ( Juror ) Eleanor Heartney

Associated Artists Gallery Sense of Place , W-S, N.C.

AAWS& Milton Rhodes Galleries, W-S, NC Expressions of Light

Morris Brown College , Atlanta ,Georgia

A&T University Student & faculty

Arts Council of

Winston ,Salem Mayor’s Office-City Hall

2000 RJR Gallery “Transcending Space & Time”

Associated Artists of Winston-Salem

Rhodes Gallery “ Personalities” Associated Artists of NC

Edward Waters College Jacksonville, FL NC A&T University, Student/Faculty Show

Dimensions 2000, “The Art of the New Millennium” 35th Annual National Jurored Art Competition ,

( Juror ) Nancy Dahlstrom

1999 ~ 2000

YWCA “Grids, Gates, Venus”-

20 Years Retrospective Works Winston-Salem, NC

1999 XI Edizione Del Porticato Gaetano, Gaeta, Italy

Piedmont Club, Winston-Salem, NC

Atrium II Gallery, Portsmouth, VA NC A&T University, Student/Faculty

H.C. Taylor Gallery, Faculty Show NC A&T State University, Greensboro, NC

1998 Rhodes Gallery, Faculty Show Sawtooth Art Center, Winston-Salem, NC

J. Paul Sticht Center, One Person Show Bowman Gray…Winston- Salem

Arts Council Boardroom, Group Show Winston-Salem, NC

1997-98

Babcock International Management Center Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

1997 United Way Arts Show Winston-Salem, NC

RJR Gallery ~ Sawtooth Visual Arts Center Winston-Salem, NC

Yonkers Eductional Center, Yonkers, NY (One Person) (Curator ) Frank Dituri

1993 Decimo Porticato Gaetano, Castello Angioino, Gaeta, Italy

Assessorato Alla Cultura Comune Di Lenola, Lenola, Italy

Decimo Porticato Gaetano, Castello Angioino, Gaeta, Italy

1991 Gallery Sterling Europea, Fondi, Italy

Chiostro San Francesco, Fondi, Italy

West Room Gallery , Yonkers, N.Y. “Maltempo” (One Person) (Curator ) Frank Dituri

Galleria Punto Arte, Fondi,(Group) Italy

Assessorato Alla Cultura, Comune di Pescara, Italy

Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY Emerging Artists

1979 PS 1, Long Island City, NY (Group)

H.H. Lehman Gallery, “14 Painters”, Included works by

David Reed & Sean Scully City University of New York

1978 H. H. Lehman Gallery, Agresti- Bellinger City University Of New York

Artist Statement

I see the familiar and the known as leading us into the mysterious and the unknown, which is transformative. For instance, a picket fence is homey, but it expresses both barrier and entrance through its gate. If there is drapery, we are drawn to pass into its opening, into the dark empty space.

Literal physical objects are important to me. Even the physicality of the paint is important. The physicality of the paint mimics the physicality of the earth. Then the literal becomes symbolic and the symbolic becomes emotional. It has to reach the level of feeling.

In much of my work there is pathos and grief. They require the literalness of the image to make the feeling felt. Once the literalness of the image has been established, I can distance myself from it to some extent to learn what it means. Any painting is necessarily a self-portrait, expressing what the artist is going through at the time. The greater part is the viewer’s response, an interpretation which is already informed with a personal history.

“My work begins with the body, the tangible, and the sensual. “

The body, however suggested, becomes the metaphor for transformative reality. The body becomes a landscape and the landscape becomes a ritualized space where emotions move. The outside becomes the inside; the framed, the boundless. Anchored to earth we are endless in our loitering explorations.

The seductive quality of the painting is reminiscent of dream space, a kind of spiritual déjà vu in its familiarity. It lures you into the depths of its successive spaces and then it devours you. It’s like Krishna’s mouth into which all beings are drawn. As in a sacrament, the humble and the mundane are transformed into the radiance of divinity.

Francesco Agresti