Giovanni Lanna was born on June 18th, 1952 in Naples, Italy. In 1963 at age eleven Giovanni, along with his family, moved to Rome.

He recalls at the time how the two cities had such different cultures; Naples a city of indescribable sounds and colors, and Rome, with its relics of the past. It was Rome that stirred his interest in architecture and Lanna studied architecture at the University of Rome in 1971, while continuing to paint and draw. Lanna’s early influences were Paul Klee and Vincent Van Gogh.It was at this point in Rome that Lanna came to realize that painting would fill his life and he would never stop.

In 1979, he moved to Florence, with its influence of the Medici family, to study the works of the old Italian Masters. While there he met Marie-Françoise who later became his wife.

In 1981, Giovanni and his wife left Florence and moved to Paris. His love of Parisienne shops, houses and cafes are expressed through his work. He had his first exhibition in Paris at the Salon d’Automne in the Grand Palais, the temple of the impressionists in the beginning of the century. He currently lives in Paris.



Lanna’s paintings have received much recognition throughout Europe. The following is a list of exhibitions:

1983 Grand Palais (Paris) Salon D’Automne- "De cezanne a Matisse"

1985 Grand Palais (Paris) Salon D’Automne- "Aux Source ole L’Impressionisme"

1986 Salon De Montmartre

1988 Gallery Quincampoix, Paris, Solo exhibition

1989 Murals in the Station of Metro Abbesses in Paris

1989 Banque National De Paris Place Vendome, Paris

1990 Salon De Montmartre

1991 La Maison Des Associations Les Halles, Paris