Jack Clemente was born in Novara in 1926 to an Italian father and an Irish mother. He studied Literature and Philosophy in his hometown, wrote poetry, and painted. He had early connections with writer Edoardo Sanguineti.
In 1952, he moved to Paris and became part of its cultural milieu, befriending artists such as Foujita, Michaux, Corneille, and Arnal. His first solo exhibition was held in 1953 at Galerie de la Muette in Paris, showcasing works influenced by Van Dongen’s expressionist figurative style. He participated in the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles in 1955 and maintained ties with Italy, notably with Guido Le Noci, director of Galleria Apollinaire, where Clemente had a solo exhibition in 1956. His work during this period alternated between lyrical abstraction and informal material experimentation.
Clemente frequently exhibited in Italian group shows, including the “Maestri e giovani pittori d’oggi” exhibition at Galleria Apollinaire in 1956 and the Lisson Prize in 1955 and 1957. By 1958, he engaged with Carlo Cardazzo and Lucio Fontana, aligning with the Spatialist movement. His works began to incorporate material textures resembling “mineral blooms” (Floraisons minérales).
From the late 1950s onward, his international exhibitions expanded, including shows at Drian Gallery in London and others in Paris, Strasbourg, and Montreal. His 1960 solo exhibition at Galleria del Naviglio in Milan showcased his evolving focus on balance between material and space. By 1968, Clemente explored unconventional materials such as rope and jute in his “New Fetishisms.”
Clemente’s last solo exhibition was held in 1972 at Galleria del Naviglio in Milan. From 1969, he collaborated with French and German television, creating documentaries on art and music figures. His first film, Pink Floyd at Pompeii, was followed by the award-winning Balla e il Futurismo (1972), which earned the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale. His final, incomplete film on Rauschenberg was finished posthumously by the artist himself.
Clemente passed away in Milan in 1974. His works are held in notable European and American collections, including the Tate Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art in Strasbourg, and MART in Rovereto.

Jack Clemente in his studio in via Santa Sofia 33, Milan