ABOUT
Claudio Napolitano
Caracas, Venezuela. b.1968.
Claudio Napolitano is a renowned Venezuelan photographer specializing in advertising and visual arts. His work is characterized by portraits and his expertise in handling light, with a deep understanding of collective psychology and the language of emotions. Napolitano’s work draws fine parallels between advertising notions of beauty and reality in our culture. With a strong introspective, dreamlike, sometimes sarcastic, dark, and dramatic language, he explores universal themes such as misery, childhood, and old age through local themes. His intention is to capture the viewer’s attention by inviting reflection on social problems. Claudio Napolitano is the only Venezuelan to have been awarded the title “Hasselblad Master” (2010), one of the most prestigious awards in professional photography worldwide.
Napolitano was born in Caracas on January 30, 1968, of Italian descent. He began his career at an early age, independently, under the influence of his parents. His mother with the Super Eight and his father with the Canon 35 mm. He studied Pedagogical Sciences at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas (1987) and Audiovisual Advertising at the Instituto Universitario de Nuevas Profesiones, Madrid (1992). His major references come from painting such as Caravaggio, De Ribera, Vermeer, and Georges de La Tour. His greatest influences in photography are Irving Penn, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon as well as Joel Peter Witkin, who awakened in him an interest in portraiture, delving into the emotional world of images, questioning the notion of beauty within culture, making this search his main objective.
After 20 years of experience in commercial photography, with the understanding of building his own vision, Claudio Napolitano began a new field of exploration in artistic photography in 2007. Under the idea “Make misery go out of fashion” with the agency Walter Thompson, he created his series Street Beauty (2007) for the Fundación Techo de Chacao. In this series, he portrays the beggars of Caracas under the lens of advertising and fashion, creating an ironic game that contrasts misery and glamour. Street Beauty is a compelling social critique and a defining turn in Napolitano’s career. Its impact was far-reaching, and he was asked by the international NGO Camillus House for a project to eradicate begging from the streets of Miami.
Napolitano’s next personal series was Smoke Signals (2008), followed by Mission Accomplished (2009). The latter is a series that pays homage to old age and seeks to portray the physical wear and tear in a heroic way, but worthy of what it means to reach the age of majority. He applies his knowledge in collective psychology and mastery of light and takes it to an introspective work, marked by emotions, translating it into an aesthetic language of his own. These early works bear the stamp of some of the most outstanding characteristics of his production: a particular interest in portraiture, in social themes, with a controlled mise-en-scène and a technical and aesthetic refinement derived from his work in the commercial world.
With his series Mission Accomplished (2009), Napolitano participated in the Hasselblad Masters Awards, where he received the prize in the portrait category, awarding him the title “Hasselblad Master 2010” and the opportunity to work with an official medium format camera. The following year, he was invited to work on a project with Hasselblad, published in the biennial book Hasselblad Masters EMOTIONS (2011). This recognition changed the course of his professional career, as he developed his next social series Keep Dreaming (2011) with the prestigious company, this time featuring children immersed in a chaotic universe. Currently, his series Mission Accomplished (2009) and Keep Dreaming (2011) are part of the Urban Photography Archive collection. These series marked a significant change in the artist’s trajectory, as he began to rebel against his own training, until then focused on recreating an ideal and perfect world, bringing it to other spaces and participating in conferences and lectures. Other outstanding series include Crisis what crisis (2014), The new aborigines (2015), and There will be blood (2015).
Claudio Napolitano’s work is internationally recognized in countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, England, Denmark, Sweden, and China. Among his most outstanding exhibitions are Tattoo, The Rebirth of the Body, The Lighthouse Art Center, USA (2019). Towards a History of the Gaze. The portrait in the collection Archivo Fotografía Urbana, Sala Mendoza, Caracas (2019). Participated in a collective at the Brazilian Art Museum, MAB- FAAP in Sao Paulo (2010). Presented an individual work and conference at Concord University West Virginia, USA (2011). In Hasselblad Masters, Hong Kong (2009), among others. In turn, he has been the recipient of more than 41 international awards among the most prominent World Photographic Cup, Best of Nations (2020); “Peta” Círculo Creativo México, Gold (2018) ; PX3 Prix de la Photographie with gold in the portrait category (2016) and honorable mention and gold (2016) ; IPA International Awards, honorable mention (2015) and honorable mention in visual arts (2012) ; Intl Color Awards (2011, 2012) ; Hasselblad Masters Award (2010) ; James E. Burke Johnson & Johnson Global Awards (2010) and has been recognized as Venezuelan Photographer of the Year two years in a row.
SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHY / CRAFT AWARDS
2020 World Photographic Cup, Best of Nation Award, Rome, Italy
2020 SPIDER Black and White Photography Awards, Honorable Mention, US
2019 Graphis Photography Poster, Silver, US
2019 Graphis Photography Annual, SILVER Award, US
2018 Circulo Creativo Mexico,“Peta”, 3 Gold, Mexico City
2018 The One Show, NYC, MERIT in Craft / Photography, New York
2018 Graphis Photography Annual, Gold
2017 CANNES Cannes Lions, Finalist Award, France
2017 Graphis Poster Annual, MERIT Award
2017 Graphis Poster Annual, SILVER Award
2016 Graphis Photography Annual, GOLD Award
2016 One EYELAND Awards, GOLD Award, Portraiture
2016 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris Gold 2015, Portraiture
2015 One EYELAND Awards, GOLD Award, Portraiture
2015 PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris / 1 Gold & 1 HONORABLE Mention, France
2012 5th International Color Award Honorable Mention Fine art, USA
2012 International Photography Awards, 3 Honorable Mention Fine Arts, Portraits, People, US
2011 International Color Award Honorific Mention Fine art, USA
2011 International Color Award Honorable Mention Fine art, USA
2010 HASSELBLAD MASTERS Award, GLOBAL WINNER Portrait Category, Denmark
2009 International Color Award NOMINEE in Fine art, USA
2007 Photographer of the Year, Circulo Creativo Venezuela, Caracas
2007 Circulo Creativo Venezuela, GRAND PRIX, Caracas
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ADVERTISING AWARDS
2020 World Photographic Cup, Best of Nation Award, Rome, Italy
2020 SPIDER Black and White Photography Awards, Honorable Mention, US
2019 Graphis Photography Poster, Silver, US
2019 Graphis Photography Annual, SILVER Award, US
2018 Circulo Creativo Mexico,“Peta”, 3 Gold, Mexico City
2018 The One Show, NYC, MERIT in Craft / Photography, New York
2018 Graphis Photography Annual, Gold
2018 EL SOL de IBEROAMÉRICA, GOLD, Bilbao, Spain
2018 EL SOL de IBEROAMÉRICA, BRONCE / Producción gráfica
2017 CANNES Cannes Lions, Finalist AwardFeet Shake, France
2017 FIAP, GOLD, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017 FIAP, 2 SILVER, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017 US HISPANIC AWARDS, 2 BRONZE, US
2017 OJO DE IBEROAMERICA,GOLD, MADRID, SPAIN
2017 Graphis Poster Annual, MERIT Award
2017 Graphis Poster Annual, SILVER Award
2016 PROMAX Latin America, BRONZE,O HIPNOTIZADOR (TV Series)
2016 Graphis Photography Annual, GOLD Award
2015 IPA International Awards / Honorable Mention
2015 PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris / 1 Gold & 1 HONORABLE Mention, France
2016 PROMAX Latin America, GOLD PSI S2 (TV Series)
2016 PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris Gold 2015 Portraiture
2013 PROMAX Latin America, Gold Award, HBO Sr. Ávila (TV Series)
2013 Telly Awards People’s Choice Awards 2013, New York, US
2012 5th International Color Award Honorable Mention Fine art, USA
2012 PROMAX BDA WORLD, Silver, HBO Prófugos (TV Series), US
2012 International Photography Awards, 3 Honorable Mention in Fine Arts, Portraits, People, US
2011 International Color Award Honorific Mention Fine art, USA
2011 CLIO Awards, Bronze, New York, US
2011 PROMAX BDA Latin America, Silver Award HBO Capadocia | Poster (TV Series)
2011 International Color Award Honorable Mention Fine art, USA
2010 HASSELBLAD MASTERS Award, GLOBAL WINNER Portrait Category, Denmark
2010 J&J James E. Burke Global Marketing Award, US
2010 Festival del caribe, Bronze, Panama
2010 FIAP, Bronze Award (Buenos Aires)
2009 J&J James E. Burke Global Marketing Award, US
2009 International Color Award NOMINEE in Fine art, USA
2009 OJO de iberoamerica Local/ Premio Pais / Buenos Aires
2008 OJO de iberoamerica Local/ Premio Pais / Buenos Aires
2008 CANNES Lions/Finalist/2008
2008 PROMAX BDA Latin America, Bronze, Cinemax Branding Campaign
2007 Circulo Creativo Venezuela, GRAND PRIX, Caracas
2005 ADDY Awards Chapter Florida, GOLD
2005 ADDY Awards Chapter Florida, SILVER
1994 – 2012 ANDA Festival (National Advertising Association of Venezuela)
BETWEEN 1994-2008 5 GRAND PRIX / 6 GOLD / 3 SILVER / 4 BRONZE
2002 CANNES LIONS/National Diploma
2002 FIAP, 2 Finalist Awards (Buenos Aires)
2002 CREATIVE STANDARD INTERNATIONAL OF NEW YORK / 2 Finalist Award NY
2002 FESTIVAL DEL CARIBE/ Gold
2002 LONDON FESTIVAL/Finalist
2001 CANNES LIONS/National Diploma
2001 FIAP, 2 Finalist Awards (Buenos Aires)
2001 FIAP (iberoamerican advertising festival), National Diploma
2001 FESTIVAL DEL CARIBE/ Gold
2000 NEW YORK FESTIVALS, 2 Finalist Award
2000 CANNES LIONS/National Diploma
2000 FIAP, Finalist Award (Buenos Aires)
2000 FESTIVAL DEL CARIBE/ Gold
2000 NEW YORK FESTIVALS, Finalist Award
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 The renaissance of body art. Lighthouse ArtCenter. Jupiter, US
2017 15 Minutes of Fame, BarcelOne Gallery, Barcelona
2015 TFRM Photography School, Wynwood, Miami
2011 Roberto Mata Escuela de fotografia, Caracas, Venezuela
2011 Concord University West Virginia, USA
2007 Gallery Edge 46, Miami US
2006 Tambo, Miami US
2004 Roberto Mata Escuela de fotografia Caracas, Venezuela
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Hacia una historia de la mirada, Sala Mendoza, Caracas.
2017 Bold and Beauty project, Art Palm Beach, US
2016 Bold and Beauty project, Art Concept @ Art Basel, Miami
2013 AAF New York. Villa del Arte Galleries New York
2012 Art Toronto Le Royer Gallery, Toronto
2012 Karlsruhe Art Fair. Villa del Arte Karlsruhe, Germany
2011 AAF Brussels. Villa del Arte Galleries Brussels, Belgium
2011 LA Art Show. Villa del Arte Galleries Los Angeles
2011 AAF Milan. Villa del Arte Galleries, Milan, Italy
2011 Collective Exhibition NYC / Mexico City / Cologne / London
2010 Brazilian Art Museum (FAAP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
2010 The print space, London, United Kingdom
2010 Hasselblad Masters Signing and exhibit, La Venue, New York
2010 Collective Exhibition Hasselblad Masters Hong Kong/ Macao/Copenhagen
2010 Mission accomplished, Kunstkasteel, Woerden-Centrum, Netherlands
2009 MILK Studios Hasselblad Masters Finalist, NYC, USA
2009 The DASK Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmak
2009 Collective Exhibition Hasselblad Masters SaoPaulo/Amsterdam/BuenosAires
2009 “Hasselblad Masters”, Cornwall House, Hong Kong
LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
2019 CUMP, Mexico
2019 Photography and Collage Napolitano Pereira, Workshop, Mexico City
2018 ARS DDB 80th Aniversary, Lecture Venezuela
2017 RM Photography School, Wynwood, Workshop, Miami
2014 ROBERTO MATA Escuela de fotografia, Lecture, Caracas, Venezuela
2013 Congreso Nacional de Fotografia, Lecture & Workshop, WTC, Mexico City
2011 ROBERTO MATA Escuela de fotografia, Workshop, Caracas, Venezuela
2011 Congreso Nacional de Fotografia, Lecture & Workshop, WTC, Mexico City
2011 Concord University, Lecture & Show, West Virginia, USA
2010 Congreso Nacional de Fotografia, Bogotá, Colombia
2010 Photocamp, Scandinavian Photography Convention, Lecture, Oslo, Norway
2010 The Hasselblad Studios,Workshop, London, United Kingdom
2010 Photokina, Köln Messe, Lecture, Cologne, Germany
2010 Show and Tell AD013, Lecture & Workshop, Miami, USA
2010 Seminario SDI, Lecture, Centro Cultural BOD, Caracas
2010 Circulo Creativo, Lecture, Caracas, Venezuela
FEATURED & SPECIAL PARTICIPATIONS
BOOKS
Hasselblad Masters Emotion, Editorial teNeues; Bilingual edition
“Capture”, Brooks Institute Press, Publisher Rocky Nook; 1
NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES
Archive, Print AD of the week, Germany
Azart, Paris
Phocus, New York
Rangefinder, California
El Nacional, Venezuela
Victor by Hasselblad, September Issue Denmark
Avecofa, Caracas
Producto, Caracas
Victor by Hasselblad, October Issue Denmark
Dilema, Lisbon
Victor by Hassekblad: Photographer of the Month June edition, Hasselblad
Rever, Miami
Rangefinder Magazine, California
El Nacional, Venezuela
Victor by Hasselblad, Hasselblad, September Issue Denmark
El Universal, Venezuela, March
Photocamp, Oslo, Norway
Profifoto, German Photographer’s Association, Germany
Wynwood Times, Miami
ONLINE
2011 Hasselblad Official Website “Phocus” Hasselblad Software Image v 2.6.4
AUCTIONS
2020 Auction SALT Foundation, New York
2008 Auction Step By Step Foundation Miami
DISTINCTIONS
2011 Honored as Westcott Top Pro
2010 Honored as member of the Sandisk Extreme Team
2008 Photographer of the Year, Circulo Creativo Venezuela, Caracas
2007 Photographer of the Year, Circulo Creativo Venezuela, Caracas
1998 Honor Collection, Nat’l Photography Convention, Caracas
JURY MEMBER
2015 Jury member UNAFOTOxDÍAx29DÍAS RMTF
2013 Jury member LUCEO AWARDS
2012 Jury member Latin American Hasselblad Masters
1994 Photography teacher level 1 in IDC (Caracas Design Institute)