Ninni Pagano (1969) - Il tempo dell' anima

Biography of Ninni Pagano

Born in Catania in 1969, Ninni Pagano initially pursues scientific studies, a background that will influence the precision and structure of his future works. His entry into the art world comes through attending the studio of master Antonio Sciacca, with whom he shares a vision of art as a bridge between different eras.

The Poetics: "The Cabinet of Curiosities"
Pagano’s research is closely tied to the concept of Wunderkammer (Cabinet of Curiosities). His works are often conceived as mental spaces where the following fuse:

Classicism and Pop: Elements of Grecian and Renaissance sculpture are reinterpreted with solid colors and contemporary symbolisms.
Alchemy and Philosophy: The artist investigates the enigma of existence through dreamlike figures (such as his famous "Swan Women") and hermetic references.
Matter: He uses mixed powders to achieve a chromatic compactness that lends the canvases a quasi-sculptural dimension.

Milestones and Recognitions
Although his exhibition career fully took off around 2011, he quickly reached internationally significant milestones:
Venice Biennale: Shown at the 56th edition (2015) within the exhibition "Grazie Italia" at the Guatemala Pavilion.
Rome Triennale: Participation in the Visual Arts Triennale Exhibition in 2014.
Publications: His work is included in Mondadori’s Catalogo d'Arte Moderna (CAM) and in the De Agostini Atlas of Contemporary Art.

International Presence: His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Altes Dampfbad Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany, and at Art Market Budapest.
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Pagano is a connoisseur of antique art. This passion is reflected in the way he “reclaims” the past—not to copy it, but to transform it into a grotesque and fascinating language that speaks of the contradictions of modern man.

The Time of the Soul
"The Time of the Soul between Vanity and Memory"

This title fully reflects Ninni Pagano’s painting research, which has always centered on introspection, memory, and the complex duality of human existence.

Here are the symbolic elements of the work that connect to the artist’s philosophy:

Vanitas and Memento Mori: The presence of the skull under the glass dome and the painting/soldering goggles on the plane evoke life’s and beauty’s transience, contrasted with the sophisticated elegance of the human figure.
The Soul and Painting: Closed eyes and a covered head evoke an inner journey, almost a meditation or a transcendent state typical of his female figures, stretched between visible reality and intimate dimension.
Tonalism and Light: The classical and Caravaggesque handling of light isolates the figure from the dark background, focusing attention on the subject’s spiritual experience rather than the external world.

Instagram:@ninnipagano