Omar Galliani: Drawing, Beauty, and the Sacred

Omar Galliani, born in Montecchio Emilia in 1954, grew up under the influence of his grandfather, whose extraordinary manual skills inspired him to see art as a natural extension of humanity’s relationship with nature. A formative moment was his visit, guided by his grandfather, to the works of Correggio: the softness and sensuality of the master’s figures left an indelible impression on the young Galliani, who began drawing animals and developing his talent for observation and technique.

Early Years and the Magic Primario Group

Galliani studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, where he came into contact with leading exponents of the Italian art scene. His first solo exhibition took place in 1977 at Studio G7 in Bologna, featuring large works on paper that reinterpreted details from masterpieces of the past, enriched with inserts of glass and gold leaf. Known for his virtuosity in drawing, he soon became one of the key figures of the “Magico Primario” group, founded with Flavio Caroli, which sought to move beyond the rigidity of conceptual art and rediscover beauty, seduction, and archetypal forms rooted in the human heart.

Dialoguing with Tradition

In 1984, Galliani also intersected with the movement of Anachronism, presented at the Venice Biennale by Maurizio Calvesi, which proposed a return to painting and dialogue with historical models as a response to the dominance of conceptualism. Galliani embraced this perspective, seeing in painting—not abstract philosophy—the privileged medium to interpret nature and the universe. Echoing Leonardo da Vinci, he viewed the artist as a “second creator,” capable of enriching divine creation through beauty.

The Central Role of Drawing

Throughout the 1980s, Galliani produced series of paintings inspired by mythological imagery and bold chromatic choices. Yet drawing remained his true and enduring vocation. He worked on polished poplar wood, scratching surfaces with sandpaper to animate them with vibration and light. Using graphite—a material that fascinated him for its alchemical qualities—he elevated images drawn from glossy magazines, destined for quick consumption, into timeless symbols. In this way, Galliani rescued beauty trivialized by consumer culture, transforming it into a spiritual, incorruptible dimension.

Anatomy and the Sacred

Fascinated by the myth of Narcissus and by Renaissance explorations of the body, Galliani developed his own vision of anatomy. His drawings depicted ribs, spines, scars, and teeth not as memento mori, but as examples of perfection and permanence. In a society that had lost its sense of the sacred, Galliani turned to contemporary icons—figures from magazines elevated to modern saints—restoring a dimension of reverence through art. His works became tattoos under the skin, metaphors of an invisible but essential beauty.

Eastward Inspirations and Universal Beauty

In his ongoing search for new sources of inspiration, Galliani eventually turned to the East, particularly China, where his work has been warmly received. There, as in Europe, his drawing continues to be celebrated as a medium capable of bridging tradition and contemporaneity. For Galliani, art is a mission: to reveal beauty wherever it manifests itself, whether in myth, anatomy, or the ephemeral images of modern society.