Biography

Franco Azzinari was born in San Demetrio Corone, in the province of Cosenza, in 1949. After the death of his parents, Azzinari, when he was still very young, he left Calabria, and began to wander thoughtout Europe on what might be called his cultural travels.
He spent several years in Paris where he was greatly influenced by three of the most important impressionists, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Monet. These exceptional artists were to play an important role in making Azzinari’s paintings so personal. In France he discovered his skill as a potrait-artist, wich is how he made a living.
In 1973 he settled in Lerici, where he painted ten landscapes of Liguria. In 1974 Azzinari held his first exhibit at “La Cattedrale” art gallery in Lerici, starting officially his activity as an artist.
Also in 1974 he inaugurated a studio-art gallery in Milan as a result of his growing commitments.
In 1977 he travelled extensively in the Far East in the footsteps of the ancient civilizations. During the years that followed, Azzinari travelled to the United States, the Seychelles and Brazil. He won considerable recognitin as an artist and his works are now part of important Italian and foreign collections.
In 1992 on a trip to Cuba he found the colours of his homeland in the people and the countryside of that nation and he fell in love with it. The works painted in Cuba were on show first at the National Museum in Havana and then in Italy in 2001. They were pubblished in a book by Electa.  Also in 2001, Azzinari  went to Greece in search of the places of myth.  He painted several works, that will be exhibited  in Rome, Paestum and Rimini from next May (2003).
In 2002, the Council Administration of Altomonte, in the province of Cosenza, inaugurated Franco Azzinari Museum in the ancient Pallotta tower.
Currently Azzinari lives and works between Italy and Greece. And these lands are his inspiring muses .