Matteo Montani was born in Rome in 1972. Following his classical studies in Rome, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Urbino and Rome, graduating in 1997 with a thesis on the expressive function of the colour blue.
His oil works on sandpaper refer back to rarefied and precarious mental landscapes, suspended between a context of meditative intimacy and apparitions articulated in a revealing dimension. This revelation leads back to the landscape as well as to the condition of man, since it is always in a direct relationship with the epiphany of vision.
His exhibition experience has seen him collaborate in a continuous and privileged way with Fabio Sargentini’s gallery L’Attico (2005/2017), as well as exhibit with other established galleries like Marilena Bonomo in Bari, Sergio Casoli in Milan, Valentina Bonomo in Rome, Otto Gallery in Bologna , Kalfayan Gallerie in Athens, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea in Milan and Nicola Pedana in Caserta.
In 2000 he was awarded the XL Premio Suzzara, in 2008 he participated in the Rome Quadriennale and held his first museum solo show at the MAR in Ravenna. His first solo show abroad was in 2011, at the Museum Am Dom in Wurzburg, Germany, where one of his large works is displayed in the cathedral.
He exhibited in New York in 2010 at Casa Italyana Zerilli Marimó and in 2016, at the Elkon Gallery. In 2015, following his solo show Andarsene at the Museo Andersen in Rome, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAM) in Rome acquired one of his experimental works: a sculpture that melts down and becomes a two-dimensional work.
His works can be found in renowned collections such as the Artefiera Collection in Bologna, Vatican Museums, the Unicredit Collection and the Vaf Collection, as well as in significant private collections in Europe and the United States.
Matteo Montani was born in Rome in 1972. Following his classical studies in Rome, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Urbino and Rome, graduating in 1997 with a thesis on the expressive function of the colour blue.
His oil works on sandpaper refer back to rarefied and precarious mental landscapes, suspended between a context of meditative intimacy and apparitions articulated in a revealing dimension. This revelation leads back to the landscape as well as to the condition of man, since it is always in a direct relationship with the epiphany of vision.
His exhibition experience has seen him collaborate in a continuous and privileged way with Fabio Sargentini’s gallery L’Attico (2005/2017), as well as exhibit with other established galleries like Marilena Bonomo in Bari, Sergio Casoli in Milan, Valentina Bonomo in Rome, Otto Gallery in Bologna , Kalfayan Gallerie in Athens, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea in Milan and Nicola Pedana in Caserta.
In 2000 he was awarded the XL Premio Suzzara, in 2008 he participated in the Rome Quadriennale and held his first museum solo show at the MAR in Ravenna. His first solo show abroad was in 2011, at the Museum Am Dom in Wurzburg, Germany, where one of his large works is displayed in the cathedral.
He exhibited in New York in 2010 at Casa Italyana Zerilli Marimó and in 2016, at the Elkon Gallery. In 2015, following his solo show Andarsene at the Museo Andersen in Rome, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAM) in Rome acquired one of his experimental works: a sculpture that melts down and becomes a two-dimensional work.
His works can be found in renowned collections such as the Artefiera Collection in Bologna, Vatican Museums, the Unicredit Collection and the Vaf Collection, as well as in significant private collections in Europe and the United States.
“I consider my painting strictly connected with the history of the eye and the vision, where the eye becomes a sensitive membrane, a filter. I associate the pictorial space with a threshold, with a subtle screen suspended between two dimensions as a frontier, a passage. What I paint is something possibly situated between the eye and the soul, an unknown place that we could define the rift between the physical world and the spiritual, in its dissolving.”
Matteo Montani
Montani’s evocative paintings convey the idea of landscapes as emotional experiences, taking the haunting qualities of skies and seas from the Romantic era to a contemporary stage by depriving them of any reference to a real, earthly place. In an almost abstract expressionist way, the artist dares to look beyond the traditional confines of reality and harnesses the skies as a means of expressing the intangible, the inexplicable, and the transcendent. The only reason to call Montani’s paintings landscapes is cultural. Viewers automatically register his format as a landscape, but at the same time, they are called to contemplate the vast enigmatic expanse of his non-places, where literal figuration is lost to the masterful use of colors and lines. Each painting is an invitation for the viewer to engage with their emotions, to feel the depth and subtlety of color and texture’s resonance.
The artist’s use of color is not haphazard but a meticulous orchestration: his transitions from dark to light, from warm to cool, evoke a profound sense of depth and motion. One can feel the energy and contemplation in their juxtaposition.
Strongly inspired by the lights of dawn and dusk – times of transformative transition both physical and emotional – and by the perpetual becoming of things, Matteo approaches his painting practice almost as an alchemist due to his peculiar technique, requiring scientific and chemical knowledge of the elements used, such as sandpaper, metal powders, oils, turpentine, and the pivotal role of the artist’s movements.
Montani approaches his work in the studio comprehensively, utilizing every available surface, moving freely within it, and fully expressing his gestural tendencies, imprinting even the slightest variations on the support. In more recent times, he started working directly on canvas, exploring the possibilities of this surface, and looking for new ways to intervene on this material coherently to his way of working, like creating movement using air.
The composition is in any case discovered through action, where the movements are supported by scientific knowledge of the elements and their reactions, allowing room for a “natura naturans” kind of surprise, where “nature does what nature does.”
The artist becomes an actual “force of nature” working on the piece in union with the other forces – including chaos – binding the painting to natural laws.
The use of turpentine and oils makes the sandpaper conquered and dominated by evanescent clouds, creating cosmogenic and enchanting effects of ethereal vapors. The metal powders, balance the composition by creating heavy counterpoints, fundamental to grounding the work and bringing it back to an earthly dimension.
Impressed in Matteo Montani’s works, there is a harmonious combination of various upward movements, akin to vapor or mist, downward movements like rains or precipitations, and lateral movements typical of winds, each movement emphasized by the masterful color palette. This offers the viewers an immersive emotional experience, enhanced by the artist’s choice to work mainly on a large-scale format. In this way, Matteo Montani’s works truly serve as portals through dimensions situated “between the eye and the soul, an unknown place that we could define as the rift between the physical world and the spiritual, in its dissolving” taking the observers on an emotional journey of self-discovery and universal interconnectivity.
Solo Exhibitions
2023
New Works, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
2022
BACK AND FORTH. Piero Dorazio / Matteo Montani, Galleria Giovanni Bonelli Pietrasanta, curated by Beatrice Audrito
Costellazione privata, Galleria d’Arte Moderna “G.Carandente” Spoleto, curated by Davide Silvioli
Nei colori del giorno, Museo Manzù, Ardea (Rm), Italy
2021
Nel rovescio della palpebra, Otto Gallery, Bologna, Italy
2020
Natura Naturans, (with Sue Arrowsmith) Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
2019
A lungo andare Unmooring, Valentina Bonomo Gallery, Rome, Italy, text by Laura Cherubini
2018
Invitation To A Disaster #15, (with Antonio Trimani), Le Stazioni Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy
Elogio della Carta, Museo H.C.Andersen Rome, Italy
2017
Unfolding, curated by Alessandra Troncone, Nicola Pedana Arte Contemporanea, Caserta, Italy
Unfolding, Una scultura, Reggia di Caserta, Caserta, Italy
Recent Paintings, presentation by A. Zanchetta,Museo d’arte Contemporanea, Lissone – Milan, Italy
The Glow and the Glare, presentation by A. Zanchetta, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
2016
Racconto Rosso, Galleria L’ Attico-Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
Once Upon A Time Life, Again, The Elkon Gallery, curated by I. del Frate-Rayburn, New York, USA
2015
Things Behind, presentation by E.Viola, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
2014
Andarsene, Museo H.C.Andersen, curated by G.Simongini, Rome, Italy
Matteo Montani and Peter Flaccus, OTTO Gallery, Bologna, Italy
2012
Bendini-Montani, Così vicini così lontani, curated by G.Simongini, Museo Carichieti, Chieti, Italy
I Luoghi dell’immagine (con Marco Grimaldi), Nuova Galleria Morone, Milan, Italy
2011
Seelenlandschaft, curated by D.Sarchioni, Museum Am Dom, Würzburg, Germany
Ausstellung, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Köln, Germany
Ausstellung, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Wolfsburg, Germany
2010
Il Guardiano della soglia, Kalfayan Galleries, Athenes, Greece
Matteo Montani, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, curated by I. del Frate, New York, USA
A Cielo aperto, OTTO Gallery, Bologna, Italy
Parole sulla montagna, Studio Giangaleazzo Visconti, Milan, Italy
2009
Naturaldurante, Galleria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy
Abbassare il cielo agli occhi, Paci Contemporary, curated by M.Cavallarin, Brescia, Italy
Discorso, Palazzo Grazioli, curated by C.D’Orazio, Reti, Rome, Italy
2008
Il Bacio ed altre strade per le stelle, Galleria Valentina Bonomo, Rome, Italy
Matteo Montani, Museo d’Arte, curated by M.Tonelli, Ravenna, Italy
2007
Fostèr, Galleria L’Attico-Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
2005
Passerò per via Nicolò dell’Arca, Galleria Marilena Bonomo, Bari
Group Exhibitions
2023
Dodici fantasmagorici, Galleria L’Attico, Rome, Italy
Figures: Yesterday and Today, Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
2022
Building an Art Bridge between Italy and Zambia, curated by Costantino D’Orazio, Lusaka National Museum, Lusaka, Zambia
Large Formats, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
Group Show, Rarity Galkery, Mykonos, Greece
2021
Orizzonti del corpo, curated by Marina Dacci, Palazzo Magnani, Reggio Emilia, Italy
Works on paper, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
Così fan tutti, Opere della collezione Ernesto Esposito – Villa Campolieto, Ercolano, Italy
Time is Out of Joint, la Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Roma a cura di Cristiana Collu
Italian Twist, Fondazione Imago Mundi, Gallerie delle prigioni, Treviso, Italy
2020
Libertà, a cura di Luca Beatrice, Castello di Lajone, Alessandria, Italy
Abstraction: from 1960 to now, the Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
2019
Apocalypse, Galleria Nicola Pedana, Caserta, Italy
The quest for happines, Italian Art Now, Serlachius Museum, Mänttä, Finland
Contemplating the Spiritual in Contemporary Art, Rosenfeld Porcini Fallery, London, UK
White Views, Italian Cultural Institute, London, UK
Franca Rame 90 anni di Spettacolo, Musalab, Verona, Italy
A misura d’uomo, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
2018
Join the dots, Salone degli incanti, Trieste, Italy
Scorribanda, La Galleria Nazionale, Roma
Small Formats, Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
Premio Michetti, 69th edition, curated by Renato Barilli, Francavilla al Mare, Italy
Incontri, presentation by V.Catricalà, ex Chiesa dell’Annunziata, Teano (CE), Italy
Colore non Colore, Galleria Valentina Bonomo, Rome, Italy
2017
Works on paper, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
Large Formats, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
2016
The art of humanity, Pratt institute the Rubelle and Norman Schfler Gallery, New York, USA
Under one sky, Dianxi science and technology normal university, Dianxi, China
Abstraction, The Elkon Gallery, New York, USA
La Pelle, issued by Fondaco, Officina, Brussels, Belgium
Unioni Civili, Galleria L’Attico-Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
Anni Zero, The Temple University, curated by A.Dambruoso, Rome, Italy
2015
Praestigium Italia, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, Italy
In Abstracto, curated by M.Rossi, Galleria Alessandro Casciaro, Bolzano, Italy
C’è chi dipinge…, Galleria L’Attico-Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
Map of the new art, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice, Italy
Duets, Luca Tommasi Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy
Unioni Civili, Galleria L’Attico, Rome, Italy
2014
Non solo fotografia, Paci Contemporary, Brescia, Italy
Biennale d’Arte, curated by G. De Feo and L. Lucibello, Palazzo dei Papi, Viterbo, Italy
Premio Vasto, curated by G.Simongini, Vasto, Italy
Biennale Cina – Italia, curated by Mian Bu, 798 Art District, Beijing, China
2013
Premio Michetti 64th edition, Francavilla al Mare, Italy
Blue, Kalfayan Galleries, Athenes, Greece
2012
Neue Sammlung, Mittelberg, Burg Museum, Germany
Quaterna, Galleria L’Attico – Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
Al principio del vedere, curated by M.Galbiati, Castel Arquato, Italy
2011
Nuova creatività italiana, Officina Italia2, curated by R.Barilli, Bologna/Milan, Italy
Scritture, Galleria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy
Liquid Flags, curated by G.Simongini, Sassoferrato, Italy
Il Santo Momento, curated by D.Sarchioni, Museum Am Dom, Würzburg, Germany
2010
A perdita d’occhio, Galleria L’Attico Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
Crossroads, Il Frantoio, Capalbio, Italy
Un mosaico per, curated by G.Simongini, Tornareccio, Italy
Puglia Contemporanea: Artisti a Palazzo, curated by L.Pratesi, Gagliano del Capo, Italy
Oltre il trompe l’oeil, Galleria L’Attico – Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
2009
Falsi Astratti, Galleria L’Attico- Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
La testa tra le nuvole, a cura di M.Carriero, Convento dei Carmelitani Scalzi, Viterbo, Italy
1+1, Galleria Marilena Bonomo, Bari, Italy
Clicking the cosmos, Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Vespolate, Italy
Da qui, Galleria 3)5, Rieti, Italy
2008
Premio Cairo, Triennale di Milan, Milan, Italy
Spore, Atomi, Stelle, Galleria L’Attico Fabio Sargentini, Rome, Italy
XV Quadriennale d’Arte, , Palazzo delle Esposizioni, curated by L.Canova, D.Lancioni, C.Spadoni Rome, Italy
Collections
PUBLIC
Collezione Artefiera, Bologna, Italy
Fondazione La Quadriennale, Rome, Italy
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy
MAR, Ravenna, Italy
Musei Vaticani, Città del Vaticano
Museo Andersen, Rome Italy
Museo Michetti, Francavilla al Mare, Italy
Museum Am Dom, Würzburg, Germany
Museum Burg, Miltenberg, Germany
Serlachius Museum, Mänttä, Finland
VAF Foundation, Frankfurt Am Mein, Germany
PRIVATE, selection
Collezione Benetton, Treviso, Italy
Collezione Ernesto Esposito, Napoli, Italy
Collezione Longo, Cassino, Italy
Collezione Unicredit, Milan, Italy
Four Seasons, Seoul, Korea
Novartis Corporated, Whippanny (New Jersey), USA
Raffles, Katara Towers, Doha, Qatar
Awards
2022
Premio Licini (Ascoli Piceno, Italy): finalist
2021
Winner of PAC 2020 promoted by Direzione Generale Arte Contemporanea and Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Italy
2018
Winner of the 69th edition of Premio Michetti, Italy
2013
Winner of the Special Jury Prize of the Premio Michetti, Italy
2009
Premio Terna 02 (Italy): finalist
2008
Premio Cairo (Milan, Italy): finalist
Talent Prize (Rome, Italy): finalist
2007
Premio Lissone (Lissone, Italy): finalist
2001
Winner of the national selection for the Biennale of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2000
Winner of XL Premio Suzzara, Italy