'I try to ask more questions than I'm giving answers to' | Carlo D'Anselmi Timestamp

Carlo D'Anselmi is a New York-based painter whose work constructs richly imagined pictorial worlds where memory, mythology, nature, dreams, and art history converge. Rooted in the traditions of figurative painting while constantly questioning them, his practice explores how images can create believable realities that exist entirely within the mind. Raised in a family of artists, D'Anselmi never had a defining moment that led him to art. It was simply the environment he grew up in, as natural and constant as everyday life. Early memories of watching his father stretch canvases, drawing together on weekends, carving wood in the forest, and visiting museums established an understanding that making art was simply a way of existing. "I have no actual memory of starting to make artwork," he reflects. "It was just always something I did." In this studio visit, Carlo discusses growing up surrounded by artists, briefly leaving art to study Classics and archaeology before ultimately returning to painting at the New York Studio School, where he developed a lifelong fascination with color, illusion, and the possibilities of pictorial space. Throughout the conversation, D'Anselmi explores originality, imagination, drawing, sculpture, dreams, philosophy, and the psychology of image making. Rather than illustrating stories, his paintings invent visual worlds governed by their own internal logic. Birds, figures, arrows, shells, animals, and fragments of memory become recurring symbols that shift meaning from painting to painting while inviting viewers to ask questions rather than search for definitive answers. Whether building a painting from a blank canvas, carving basswood sculptures, or producing dozens of drawings to unlock new ideas, D'Anselmi treats making as a continual process of discovery. "I try to ask more questions than I'm giving answers to," he explains. "If I look at a painting and don't feel that it's unique to me, it's not good enough." His work ultimately investigates the relationship between imagination and reality, revealing how painting can construct spaces that feel simultaneously impossible and deeply believable. -- Explore more of Carlo D'Anselmi's work here: Website: https://www.carlodanselmi.com/ Instagram:   / carlodanselmi   -- Filmed and produced by Timestamp - documenting artists, ideas, and creative lives around the world. Timestamp is an arts education organization dedicated to bringing the contemporary art world to a global audience. We create a documentary series that goes beyond the artwork to explore the minds and practices of contemporary artists around the world. Through intimate, cinematic interviews and immersive visuals, we document the personal philosophies, studio rituals, and emotional landscapes that shape the art of our time, creating a vital educational resource for all. To continue this mission and keep this educational content accessible, we rely on the generosity of donations and sponsorships. Your support directly funds the production of these insightful films, ensuring the next generation of artists and enthusiasts can learn from the masters of today. © Copyright Timestamp Art, LLC. 2026. — Want to support Timestamp? Donate here! https://buymeacoffee.com/mgmttimestz — Read the full story here: https://timestamp-art.com/ — Timestamp - Interviews with the art world. Website: https://timestamp-art.com/ Instagram:   / time____stamp   TikTok:   / time____stamp   Learn more: https://beacons.ai/time____stamp Listen to Timestamp interviews on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/76yZVdQ... — Help support Timestamp (we're an Amazon Associate) when you buy art supplies with our affiliate links (we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you): Painting Supplies Shop for Acrylic Paint: https://amzn.to/43UkZLA Shop for Oil Paint: https://amzn.to/469Oha5 Shop for Canvas: https://amzn.to/4nG9q1I Shop for Brushes: https://amzn.to/4nJQJdQ — #CarloDAnselmi #ArtistInterview #Timestamp