William Papaleo is a prominent painter whose dramatic depictions are full of controlled and potent emotion. The New York-born artist, a third generation American, captures the texture, colors and toil of Southern Italy, which has absorbed layers of history and sunlight for centuries. Son of noted Italian-American writer Joseph Papaleo, Bill has lived in Italy for more than 20 years, currently in Vietri sul Mare, beautiful town at the eastern limit of the costiera amalfitana. In America he divides his time between New York and Cape Cod.

A transnational artist in harmony with the philosophy of Robert Henri, a leading figure of the Aschan School of American realism, Bill is inspired by “all art, poetry, music, dance and writing that attempts to get to the essence of what we are,” he says. His fascinating solo show “Breaking Walls: An Emigrant/Immigrant Journey through Southern Italy” is on view through August 31 at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, New York.