Born in Treviso, Norhern Italy in 1950 the young Anselmi attended the University of Urbino where he graduated in Languages and Sociology. Always interested in art above all else, these academic achievements were more to please his father, than himself. Initially earning a living through teaching languages Anselmi continued to develop his own unique artist style and in 1974 began painting full time.
In Anselmi’s work the concerns of Italian Futurism, speed, power and movement are subtly interchanged with deceptively simple human and animal forms. Favoured subjects include Byzantine style Madonnas, glamorous women, often in trios or pairs, and the uniquely humorous Anselmi cats and owls. Sometimes we see traces of controlled surrealism as in Anselmi’s horse paintings. Here the subjects are painted at acute angles which embody their restless quest for adventure and freedom. The nocturnal owl, wisest of birds, is the only creature portrayed with two eyes, indicative of a balanced view of the world. Anselmi’s talent and originality continues to attract international success. From 2000 he has been represented exclusively in New Zealand by International Art Centre.
Early exhibitions include Germany Wetzlar, Giessen, Marburg , Olpe, Austria, Millstatt, Klagenfurt In thelate 1980s Anselmi was invited to include works in the Miami Art America Fair. From 1994 till 1999 he exhibited annually at Casa dei Carraresi, Treviso, 2005 Helsinki l’Istituto Italiano di Cultura and Italianarts, 2005, 2006 International Art Centre, Auckland, 2007 AnselmiItalia Christchurch, Florence art Fair by Galleria Crispi of Rome, 2008 Padua Art Fair, April 2008 Mergozzo, Corsica. Anselmi is currently working towards his next New Zealand exhibition in March 2008.
