Italian artist Luca Ripamonti is making his debut on the Chicago art scene with a digital presentation of one of his most ambitious works, “Towards the Future,” during the Chicago Art Fair 2026 at THE MART.
Running from October 7 through 11, the presentation brings Ripamonti’s monumental painting to an American audience through a high-definition digital format designed to reproduce the scale and texture of the original work. Measuring approximately 10 by 6.5 feet – 3 by 2 meters – the painting was created entirely with a palette knife, giving its surface an unusually sculptural quality.
“Towards the Future” explores uncertainty, vulnerability and resilience. A small solitary figure appears against imposing dark masses before moving toward an illuminated horizon, transforming an initially unsettling scene into a message of hope.
The Chicago presentation represents another step in Ripamonti’s growing relationship with the American art world. His works have previously been shown in New York and Miami, including exhibitions connected with the major international art market in South Florida.
Born in Italy in 1964, Ripamonti developed his artistic training in the Upper Verbano area known as the “Valley of Painters,” a territory with a long pictorial tradition. His figurative work combines this classical background with contemporary themes and techniques.
The Chicago showcase therefore creates another connection between Italian artistic tradition and the contemporary American art market, introducing Ripamonti’s work to collectors, curators and visitors in one of the United States’ major cultural centers.
