Mimmo Paladino was born in Paduli (Benevento), Italy, in 1948.
He was raised in Naples where he attended the fine arts high school and soon demonstrated his interest in the art world.
In the early 1970s, the artist focused on design by working with the mythological subjects that will acquire an important role in his artistic production. His works relate to a wide range of archaeological, mythological and stylistic sources. Between 1978 and 1980, Mimmo Paladino created monochrome paintings in primary colors to which he added geometric elements and recycled objects; towards 1983, the artist began to apply to his work sculptural forms sculpted in wood.
In the early 1980s, he began working with bronze, using colored patins, and carving wood and stone; thus creating archaic characters, totemic objects, masks, and trunks of animals and men. In 1980, art critic Achille Bonito Oliva inserted Paladino in the exhibition "Aperto 80" (Open 80) together with in a group of Italian artists (Sandro Chia, Francesco Clemente, Enzo Cucchi and Nicola De Maria) that he defined Transavanguardia. In addition to drawing and painting, Paladino works prolifically with many expressive mediums, including sculpture and various engraving techniques. His artistic production seems to blur the distinction between sculpture and painting, and open a dialogue between traditional and minimalist representation.
Paladino has held numerous exhibitions all over Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
The artist currently lives and works between Paduli and Milan.
