Although Vito Campanella started to paint at the age of 14 in his native Monopoli, his love for visual arts began earlier.
He was born in 1932 and endured the sorrow, agony and shortage that surrounded World War II. In the aftermath of the armed conflict, daily life in Southern Italy changed forever. Allied planes crisscrossing the sky and ceaseless bombings left indelible memories he later translated into works of art.

As a child, Vito Campanela used to attend both primary and art schools, where his painting gift thrived and ripened. His early calling soon turned into a sound career. In 1948 the young artist was selected to create a mural to adorn the local church and earned the Pintura delle Regionni Award in Napoles.

Sortly after Campanella was invited to show his painting in Bari, where he was deservedly awarded at the age of 20. Later he moved to the lovely and bountiful Florence where he enthusiastically participated in its rich cultural activities and continued to paint wonderful pictures. Always on the move and eager to expand his aesthetic potential, he tried many different styles, including Pop art, abstraction and geometry before discovering in Sirrealism his true field.
The sculptor G. Rossi introduced him to the great master Giorgio De Chirico and the ensuing friendship was a crucial experience for Campanella. Thanks to it he gained access to a philosophic realm in which paiting had extraordinarily flourished and along whose paths Campanella was already strolling.
In Rome he met the renowned Salvador Dalí and although their relationship was really important for the young painter, he was wise enough to remain loyal only to himself. While in Milan, he studied anatomy -the balance and symmetry of the human body- at the Academy od Brera Fire Arts School.

Some years lated he decided to join his family in Argentina. He promptly embraced Argentine and Latin American art movements yet never forgot his European links, as the exhibition of his works at the French Metamorphosis Salon could attest. From 1962 on, Campanella devoted his entire life of painting.

In his country of adoption he launched several celebrated series such as "Unicorns", those mythical animals that have seduce so many artist; "Alchemy", teeming with esoteric meanings or the acclaimed "Cosmic Musicians". His Works were shown at the Joan Miró IX International Dawing Exhibition (Spain), XII International Paiting Exhibition (French Riviera), Salon d'Autumme (Paris), II IAG International Paiting Exhibition (Athens) and Argentine Surrealist Painters Show (Buenos Aires). In 1976 he earned the Golden Palm Award from the International Exibithion (Monte Carlo) and some years later, a Contemporary Art Award (Lyon).

A stint in the vast pampas inspired a series about a cherished poem, the "Martín Fierro", translated into wonderful works and shown in several Patagonian cities, issued a stamp bearing a Campanella's drawing.

Vito Campanella is an Honorary Member of the International Arts Guild and Active Member of the Centre de Liasion des Artistes Peintres de France.

Vito Campanella at his studio in Paris, 1975

Other remarkable series followed, including "Greek Mythology" (Buenos Aires) and "Egg" (Sao Paulo), as well as astonishing works exhibited in Paris and Athens.

The Holy Land was beautifully depicted on his "Biblical" paintings. The "Centaurs" series was created in Paris, where Campanella was nominated Honorary Member by the French Artist Association.

The 80's were busy years. He showed his paiting in Montevideo, earned the Deloye Prize in Paris and was ordered Knight of the Italian Republic.

Campanella's reputation continued to grow and his works were shown at the Tokyo's Contemporary Art Museum and Jerusalem's Freud Salon. His "Homage to Leonardo da Vinci" -painted in Europe- was acclaimed in Rome and Sao Paulo. About that time he created the "Woman... Women" series.

He has illustrated a UNICEF post card and presented a retrospective both at a renowned Buenos Aires gallery and the Provincial Fine Arts Museum in Parana (Entre Rios province) "Cent Signatures" -a book by art critic Charles André Rousseau- included Campanella among the top 100 artist. His works have been shown at Bologna's Artefiera and his "Centuries Recollection" series, dedicated to the great masters, was praised in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Rome alike. Campanella's celebrity knew no boundaries. His paiting rehashed the Arts for Humanity Exhibition in Baghdad and he was nominated Fine Arts Academic Member by the Ligurian Studies Academy (Genoa) and Commander of St. George and St. Rose of America by the international Parliament of Safety and Peace.

The prominent Florentine Galleria degli Uffizzi acquired and exhibited a Campanella's self-portrait. His works have been appreciated in Arte Roma (Rome), Art Expo NY (New York City) and New Masters (Miami, Florida) shows, the Breton Surrelism Salon (Lyon), Mitsokoshi Galley (Tokyo) and exhibitions in Aspen (Colorado), Boca Raton (Florida) and Monte Carlo. His Surrealist jewels have corroborated his gift as skilled goldsmith.

More recently, the Municipal Fine Arts Museum of La Plata (Buenos Aires province) has assembled an important restrospective and the Argentine government has deservedly awarded his art achievements. He participated in an homage paid to The Beatles and Eva Peron in Buenos Aires.
He has earned the Lawrence the Magnificent Prize from the Florence's Modern Ast Biennial and nominated Honorary Member by the Florentine Artist Association. By the turn of the century, he exhibited his works at the Gallerie de la Cathedrale (Monaco).
His painting hace been shown ar ArteBA (Buenos Aires), Art Expo NY (New York City), Art Chicago (Chicago, Illinois), Sacred Art Salon (Syracuse, Italy) and Luxembourg, where he has painted an imposing mural.
He has also been Buenos Aires Arteclasica Guest of Honor. In 2005, the Argentine Senate deservedly awarded Campanella's cultural achievements. One year later, the artist became a Life Member of the Union of American Condors.
In 2006, the Cultural House of Sao Paulo (Brazil) assembled an important retrospective exhibition and Campanella became a Distinguished Member of the Brazilian Academy for Art, Culture and History.

In 2007, Campanella received The Order of Merit as Commander bestowed by the Italian Republic and nominated Painter of the Year by the Buenos Aires Borgesean Association's Proa magazine.

In 2008, Campanella's works were shown in an exclusive Stockholm art gallery, and in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Vito Campanella is undoubtedly an renowned painter, called Master by the prestigious Swiss dictionary "Art Leaders of the World."

Vito Campanella at present

Vito Campanella (Abridged Resume)

Born in Italy in 1932, he joined the Plastic Latin-American and Argentinean movement since 1955. Made numerous collective and individual expositions and his works were included in important private collections and museums, such as: Athens Museum of Fine Arts, The Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Tel Aviv Museum of Modern Art, Johannesburg Museum of Modern Art, Mar del Plata Museum of Fine Arts, Paraná Museum of Fine Arts, among others.

He is currently considered one of the most recognized world class surrealist artist and he is constantly invited to participate in International Salons, where, representing Argentina, He has been distinguished with several awards. Among such, stand out:

-Second Prize. “International Contemporary Arts Salon” Lyon 1973.
-First Prize. “International Contemporary Painting Contest, Punta del Este, 1975.
-Great Prize “Golden Palm”, Montecarlo, 1978.
-“Deloye” Prize, Biennial Fine Arts Salon, Paris. 1982
-"Lorenzo II Magnifico" Prize, Biennial International Contemporary Arts Salon, Florence 1999

He was awarded with several distinctions:

Order of Merit, with the grade of Knight of the Italian Republic. Academic Of Honour, conferred by The "Ligure Academy of Genoa" – Order of Saint George, with the grade of Knight Commander, conferred by "The International Parliament of Safety and Peace" USA – In 1995, in the Argentinean Government Palace, he received an Appreciation to his Artistic Career from the President of the Nation. – In 2005, The Honourable National Senate of Argentina paid him homage when he reached 50 years with the Argentinean Painting. – He is Honorary Member of The French Plastic Artists Association and The Florentine Painters Association. The cities of Punta del Este and La Plata have declared him Illustrious Guest.

In 2007 The Italian Republic, honoured him with the Great Grade of Knight Commander.