Paolo Gioli (1942–2022) was an Italian artist, photographer, and filmmaker, born in Sarzano. Throughout his career, he conducted extensive experimental research on photographic and cinematic processes, often using handcrafted techniques and unconventional devices.
After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, he moved to the United States, where he came into contact with the avant-garde artistic and film scene. Upon returning to Italy, he developed a personal visual language based on the direct manipulation of photographic materials and the deconstruction of the mechanisms of vision.
One of the defining features of his work is the use of the camera obscura and self-built tools, such as pinhole cameras and modified Polaroids, through which he explored the relationship between image, time, and matter.
Alongside his photographic practice, Gioli created experimental films in which he investigated movement and perception, often working directly on the film strip itself. His works lie at the intersection of visual arts and cinema, characterized by a strong analytical and conceptual approach.
