Meet Giancarlo Fiorenzo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Giancarlo Fiorenzo.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Giancarlo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My father was a painter, so I grew up surrounded by art. I was exposed to gallery shows around Chicago, took multiple trips to the Art Institute, hung around with my dad at his studio, etc. So from a young age, my little brain was constantly exposed to “high art.” I drew consistently through my childhood but never thought of it as a career move, art was just something I enjoyed. In college, I actually started out studying video art, but when I had the chance to paint in a studio setting I fell in love all over again. Ultimately I ended up having some issues with the program, so I dropped out of school and worked the past three years as a contractor remodeling homes in Columbus, Ohio. It wasn’t until I met my wonderful girlfriend in May 2018 that I found a reason to pick up the brush again, and I’ve been painting consistently since. So you could say I was saved by a muse. I moved to Tucson in August hoping to shake up my setting and commit full time to painting. Getting picked up by Shaneland Arts was a huge jump forward for my career and a really reaffirming moment as far as my dreams are concerned.

Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think you’ll meet many people who chose a career in the arts and would describe the journey as “smooth.” If you do, give me a call. In the grand scheme of things, there are many, many avenues to quicker and easier money. So I am constantly trying to put that thought out of my head. Ultimately, I know that money will not buy me happiness, so as long as I am able to support myself while continuing to develop as an artist, I’ll be alright. I am fortunate enough to have had a ton of really supportive people come along and continue to encourage what I do. But on the flip side, you need to develop a thick skin to deal with the inevitable rejections that come with applying to shows, residencies, etc. The fact of the matter is, no matter how good you are, people are often looking for things other than what you provide. I’ve learned that staying positive and not getting bitter at what other people are doing is the key to pushing forward. As artists, we’re all in this together. I try to remember that my personal preferences do not negate the great things other people are doing.

Please tell us more about your art.
My main focus is on painting. I use acrylics, house paint, and oils, depending on what I’m going for. One of my paintings currently showing at Shaneland involved the use of multiple canvases patched together, and I had to build a cross-shaped frame with bracing to bring the whole thing to a finished point. Ultimately, the final piece became almost as sculptural as it was painterly, an end result I enjoyed immensely. So I’m considering ways to bridge the gap between sculpture and painting moving forward.

My style has been described as expressionist, neo-cubist, surreal, graphic… Ultimately, I like to think that they look like my paintings. I am not trying to emulate anybody and the work is born out of process first and foremost. My subject matter generally focuses on the human figure and the interactions between people and objects. I like to include timeless imagery (lanterns, religious, babies) in an effort to enter a dialogue with the human condition. But I’m currently working on a series of snakes in grass that more or less bucks this trend. The paintings are very influenced by Monet’s water lilies.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
There’s no city quite like Phoenix. The scale, the constantly sunny skies, the variety of people- it has been a pleasure to operate in such a setting. I would absolutely recommend working here, as it is the type of city with the grassroots potential to get you in the door, and the infrastructure to keep you going through an entire career. I started out working in Columbus, and although it is a sizable city, it does not carry the economic force or name recognition of Phoenix. The main thing I’m worried about is the water running out. But I’m sure there are plenty of people working on that who are much smarter than I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: giancarlofiorenzo.com
• Phone: 6169150202
• Email: Gian.fiorenzo@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/giansart

 

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