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Cavaliere Carlo Gislimberti
Artist, Chef, Restaurateur

Villa Fontana Restaurant
#71 Highway 522 Five mi1es north of Taos Post Office Box 2872,
Taos, New Mexico 87571
Te1: 505-758-5800 - Fax: 505- 758-030 l
E-mail: villafon@newmex.com

Carlo Gislimberti was born to be an Artist!

Since his birth in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy, it has been clear to everyone around him ­family, friends, business associates - that the creation of vibrant art is a driving force in his life. This commitment was first translated into culinary art, leading to his becoming internationally recognized as a chef and restaurateur. After coming to this country in 1978, he honed and refined his talents, to the extent that his acclaimed Taos, New Mexico restaurant, Villa Fontana, is rated as " the best of the best," Ì.e., one of the top ten, of V.S. northern Italian restaurants by the famous Italian food and wine critic, Luigi Veronelli (Europeans are familiar with Veronelli's books as indispensable guides to the highest quality in food and wine). Further evidence of the regard in which Chef Carlo's Villa Fontana Restaurant is held stems from the coveted Four Diamond rating it was given by the American Automobile Association, as well as by its designation as a distinguished restaurant of North America by DiRoNa. Carlo has earned such acclaim for himself and Villa Fontana, not only by appealing to the paIate, but al so by presenting his cuisine in a way that is both creative and compellingly attractive - truly art.

It was a natural extrapolation, therefore, when seven years ago, the artistic chef began to extend his talents into the world of painting, which he considered to be a more permanent venue for his creativity. He was recently heard to say, "Cooking continues to be my profession, but painting is my passion." He was assisted in making the transition to oils by notable artists who had regularly dined with him, including the late Rod Goeble, Walter Gonske, R.C. Gorman, J.P.Hughston, Ray Vinella, Don Ward, Mimi Chen Tin, Kevin MacPherson, and Paul Milosevich, to name just a few. They had taken note of Carlo's seemingly limitless range and use of color in his cooking, and were only too willing to help him make his conversion. They grounded him in the formaI aspects of composition and form; however, their greatest contribution was to his search for the whimsical value of color on canvas.

The response to his efforts has been nothing short of remarkable. In his relatively short tenure as a painter, he has been the focus of six one-man shows, and was invited to participate in the prestigious Taos lnvites Taos

juried show, and the Lubbock Art Show in Texas. Few at this stage could c1aim more than a local following. Carlo's work, by contrast is already being sought by discerning collectors throughout the United States and Europe. He is c1early a rising star in the world of art, just as he was when he began his career as a chef.

Carlo Gislimberti will continue to paint with Amore, in enthusiastically bold, vibrant colors that are laid down with strong, energetic brush and finger strokes. This is a man who was truly born to be an artist!