Francesco Clemente: The Tarots

Clemente uniquely reinterprets the tarot deck with a star-studded group of unexpected subjectsAmerican Art Catalogues presents a fully illustrated 78-card tarot deck by the Italian and American artist Francesco Clemente (born 1952), accompanied by a guidebook written by the artist. Housed in a bespoke lidded box, the deck brings together Clemente's distinctive visual language with the symbolic structure of the tarot. Begun in 2008, the watercolor and gouache tarot cards depict family and friends, reflecting relationships central to Clemente's life and creative world. A New York resident since 1981, the artist draws many of his subjects from the city, including in the 22 Major Arcana cards, transforming the traditional tarot into a personal portrait of his community. Figures portrayed include Salman Rushdie, Fran Lebowitz, Jasper Johns, Philip Glass, Diane von Fürstenberg, Colm Tóibín and Scarlett Johansson, as well as artists Brice Marden, Helen Marden and Kiki Smith.
Each card is rendered in Clemente's characteristically expressive hand, combining vivid color with symbolic imagery that bridges contemporary portraiture and the long-standing iconography of the tarot. The result is a deck that is both intimate and expansive, rooted in personal connection while engaging with a centuries-old divinatory tradition. The accompanying booklet, written by Clemente, illuminates the cards with his reflections and interpretations, helping readers understand the nature and significance of each card in the deck.