Giulio Paolini (b. 1940, Italy) is widely regarded as one of the most important conceptual artists of his generation, with a cohesive multi-media practice that explores and investigates the relationship between artwork, viewer, and the artist. In the mid-1960s, he became associated with the Arte Povera movement; his work is most recognized for being inscribed in a strictly conceptual sphere. His experimentation with various materials (photographs, plaster casts, drawing paper, Plexiglas, and objects) forms a dialogue with time and history. Paolini currently lives and works in Turin.

Throughout his career, Paolini has developed a complex research method that focuses not only on the artist’s tools but also on the artist’s role as an operator of languages and conduit for the viewer. Paolini’s work often features mirrors, frames, and other objects that call attention to the act of looking and constructing meaning in art. He is also known for using classical and mythological imagery, which he often combines with contemporary elements to create a dialogue between past and present. He has exhibited his work extensively worldwide, and he participated in several editions of Documenta and the Venice Biennale.

As well as a vast number of solo and group exhibitions and an extensive bibliography, Paolini has received numerous awards and accolades during his career, including, most recently, the Japanese Praemium Imperiale for painting in 2022.