michele simonetti [b. 1976, castelfiorentino, italy] is a painter and architect based in brooklyn, new york. he received his master’s in architecture from the university of florence in 2003 and has kept a strong interest in brutalism and minimalism. he moved to new york city in 2014.
his work begins with places that stir memories and a sense of belonging: a city he walks through, the corner of a building, the edge of a rooftop. In the studio these moments become reliefs and modular paintings on wood panel, built up in gesso, pumice and acrylic, where textures, edges and shadows turn memories into something you can touch.
in 2023 he was a finalist for the tristate italian art prize, presented by the consulate general of italy and the italian cultural institute in new york. he has had solo exhibitions in florence and montaione, and has shown in new york, milan and rome, including during new york design week 2026 and milano design week 2025. his work is in the collections of the child mind institute, manhattan, and the shirley project space, brooklyn.
he is represented by zarolat, brooklyn, ny.