In the nuanced dialogue between graphite and oil paint, Giovanni Lombardi has found a language uniquely his own. His work exists in that liminal space where drawing meets painting, abstraction balances composition, and control wrestles with chaos. Since graduating from OCAD University in 2016, he has been exploring this tension, embedding graphite into wet oil on paper and linen to create hybrid surfaces that defy categorization yet feel meticulously considered.

“I’m not trying to deliver a clear message,” he explains. “It’s more about exploring tension - between materials, between control and chaos.” Each piece begins with a concrete visual or conceptual prompt but evolves organically through the act of making. Graphite and paint, traditionally occupying separate realms, are compelled into dialogue, their friction driving the work forward. The resulting abstractions invite curiosity: forms that seem almost recognizable but elude full comprehension.

“That is success, it’s when the work surprises me, when it pushes back and evolves in a way I didn’t anticipate.”

Yet Giovanni’s creative journey hasn’t been linear - after exhibiting in a group show at Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel, he realized he wasn’t satisfied with the work he was producing. He decided to step away from the studio, travel and immerse himself in new art and experiences. The break, as later understood, was crucial - allowing time to reset and gain fresh perspectives. When Giovanni returned, his vision had crystallized - “I had a clearer sense of the surface I wanted to make, something more intentional, more resolved,” he recalls, underlining that stepping back can be the most important part of moving forward.

Collaboration, for him, is a space of discovery. “The best results happen when both voices push each other into unfamiliar territory,” he notes. Inspirations such as Keith Haring’s Absolut Vodka campaign and George Condo’s album cover for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy illustrate how he values projects where artistic boundaries are tested. However, for Giovanni, the process itself is as much a part of the art as the finished pieces. He finds joy in the quiet moments when paint and graphite settle, the surface drying into something unexpected. “That is success,” he says, “it’s when the work surprises me, when it pushes back and evolves in a way I didn’t anticipate.’’

Even amid such disciplined exploration, Giovanni’s personality shines through in small, personal rituals. “I always have an espresso after I work,” he admits with a laugh. It’s a grounding habit that helps him maintain balance in his practice. Yet the dialogue between order and disorder, the thrill of discovering where his hybrid approach will lead and the alchemy of material, remains his central focus. Looking ahead, he envisions mural-sized works, ready to transform spaces when the right opportunity arises in his creative journey to follow.

For collectors, creatives and collaborators alike, his work offers both a challenge and an invitation: to step into a world where drawing and painting intersect, and to discover beauty in the unexpected.

Follow Giovanni’s work on Instagram at @giovannilombardistudio and stay tuned for future features of Creative Intersect at @thecreativeintersect.

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