Claudio Verna (b. 1937, Italy) is a senior figure in Italian painting, a founder of the “Pittura Analitica” (Analytical Painting) movement, which emerged in the late 1960s as the Italian counterpart of Minimalism. While Arte Povera explored unconventional materials and often critiqued traditional art forms, Verna and the other analytical painters remained committed to the potential of painting itself, rigorously exploring colour, form, and space as fundamental expressive elements.

Initially, Verna’s work displayed a geometric precision that evolved in the late 1970s, shifting toward a more gestural, dynamic style. This transformation reflected his conviction that colour alone could convey profound emotion and meaning, making it the centrepiece of his artistic language. His later works, marked by vibrant and liberated use of colour, invite viewers to experience his nuanced engagement with painting as a powerful, independent medium.

Verna’s career has included major exhibitions worldwide, including two participations in the Venice Biennale (1970 and 1980). Notably, two important solo exhibitions of the artist were held at Cardi Gallery in London and Milan in 2018, curated by Piero Tomassoni, with works spanning Verna’s entire five-decade career.  His works are held in major museum collections, and he continues to produce work and exhibit regularly in institutions and galleries. In 2008, he received the prestigious Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for painting and was inducted as an Academician at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. Verna lives and works in Rome.