Paolo Campa

The meticulous figurative painting of Paolo Campa (pseudonym of Paolo Alberto Campanile) has always pursued the beauty and elegance of nature. Initially close to Metaphysical Surrealism, in the mid-1990s he abandoned this path to devote himself entirely to Contemporary Realism.
Among his preferred subjects are Alpine flowers, symbols not only of his place of origin but also of rebirth and transformation.

Working with oil and pastel, although often associated with contemporary hyperrealism, Paolo Campa rejects this definition, considering it overly focused on technical extremism. Rather than drawing attention to virtuosity, he invites the viewer to be guided by the “silent” language of his compositions.

His artistic research is centered on carefully calibrated light and aesthetic balance, elements that encourage contemplation and reflection. This approach gives rise to a form of “Contemplative Realism”, almost conceptual in nature, where painting becomes a space of introspection and visual meditation.

Paolo Campa’s works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Switzerland, the United States, England, and Greece. Since 2006, he has taken part in major international art fairs, an opportunity that led renowned critic Maurizio Sciaccaluga to include him in the exhibition New Painters of Reality, held at the PAC – Pavilion of Contemporary Art in Milan in 2007 and later curated by Vittorio Sgarbi following Sciaccaluga’s untimely passing.

In 2021, he participated in the exhibition The Great Masters of International Realism, curated by Artelibre and the MEAM Museum of Barcelona, held at Palazzo Einaudi in Chivasso (Italy). He has also successfully exhibited at important international fairs, including MiArt (2006–2007), ArteFiera Bologna (2017), and Wopart – International Fair of Works on Paper (2017–2018).

His works continue to be shown in galleries in Switzerland and across Europe.
He currently lives and works in Lugano.