Gianluca Franzese recently opened his solo show "Reflective Radiation" at K. Imperial Fine Art in San Francisco. This impressive body of work was created with metal leafing and acrylic washes, a painstakingly precise process. The largest piece in the show, "Photoelectric" dominates the gallery space with its six-feet-by-ten-feet dimensions and took the artist eight months to complete.

"Franzese’s meticulous process incorporates traditional gilding techniques and a variation of mediums. Initially, Franzese covers the entire panel with aluminum, creating his blank canvas. With precision, Franzese engraves his geometric patterns directly into the panel creating an outline for the application of color and metal leaf. Reflective Radiation explores the notion of light and illusion while each painting plays with the viewer’s perspective with various grades of shimmer, illuminating the space.

Gianluca Franzese is an Italian-born American artist who has lived and worked in San Francisco over the past 14 years. The son of a jewelry maker and a pupil of the old masters of Italian art, Franzese started painting early on, moving through realist, expressive, and narrative styles. Franzese has exhibited in, California, Norway, Italy and London. Franzese holds a degree in painting and sculpture from the Florence Academy of Art." - K. Imperial