Francesco Senise, a renowned contemporary Arbëresh painter, was born in Lungro, Cosenza (Calabria). He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown before studying at “Magna Grecia Di Catanzaro” University. Much of his artistic work is dedicated to his native country, capturing the surrounding environment with vibrant landscapes and portraying ordinary people, particularly Arbëresh women and grandmothers. His paintings are characterized by a realistic style, with a dominant use of red, symbolizing both the fighting spirit of the Arbëresh people and their suffering and thirst for freedom. Other important colors in his works reflect the local Byzantine tradition of Lungro and the influence of the nearby Salgema mine. Senise dedicates part of his artistic output to the miners and their hardships, driven by deep-rooted memories from his childhood. He was particularly captivated by stories from his uncle about the challenging lives of miners and the sculptures at the “Camillo Vaccaro” elementary school he attended, which depicted the extraordinary efforts of salt workers burdened by heavy stones. His intense focus on the miners’ suffering quickly garnered the attention of critics, allowing him to exhibit regularly at a national level in Italy and internationally at significant art centers and fairs across Europe, America, and many other countries worldwide. (In the photo: Senise’s work “Peisazh Vjeshtor” (“Autumn landscape”), oil on canvas, 2012.)
Text: https://www.gigarte.com/francescoseniseart/biografia
Photo: © Francesco Senise
Graphic processing: AHCF
