Paolo Tesi was born in Pistoia, Italy in 1945, where he attended the section of Painting of the Art School and continued his studies at the Magisterium d'Arte and the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. engraving and drawing. Throughout his career, Tesi has produced many works of art, posters, brochures and catalogs, and has been curating art and literature magazines, editions and artwork and art book reviews.

Although he is a "painter with the temptation to write," he never gave up on pure painting, realizing, among other works, numerous wall paintings. For several years he has devoted himself to paintings depicting insects. On December 5, 2016, he inaugurated an exhibition of painting, INSEKTEN HOMINES, at the Biblioteca San Giorgio di Pistoia.

“Insects inspire my creativity, there are many to crush them and sweep them away ... no one loves them. In me they stimulate the curiosity and the desire to observe them carefully so as not to lose the inspiration,” said Tesi.

It’s all about Tesi and the grizzly world he paints. Insects are metaphor of the more visceral side of the world he depicts. Even the material he paints on has the rawness his subjects transmit.

In Europe the billboard is a means of announcement, publicity, notice. One strata pasted on top of another until these large masses of glued paper begin to fall away from their original ports of entry. Tesi has a friend that brings him these room size sheets of former billboards, torn away from their walls, warped and ragged. Tesi repurposes this detritus into the rough surfaces where his fabulous creations reside. Paolo Tesi is a teacher, probably first, artist, second and always a storyteller of style, high energy, adventure. His paintings are timeless and original.

Gold/Smith Gallery will be featuring "Insect and Man" by Paolo Tesi from July 1 through July 26. On First Friday, July 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a long distance interview, live from Pistoia, Italy with Tesi direct via internet. The gallery is located at 8 McKown St. Boothbay Harbor, across from the Memorial Library. Gold/Smith Gallery is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. For more information the gallery can be reached at 207-633-6252 or goldsmithgallerybbh@gmail.com.