Francesco Lietti was born in Lecco, on the southern shore of Lake Como, Italy. He studied architecture in Milan, continued his education in Paris at the École des Beaux‑Arts La Seine, and later earned a postgraduate diploma in Urban Planning from London South Bank University. He worked as an architect in London with Denton Corker Marshall and Gustafson + Porter, and in Hong Kong with Aedas, where he has lived since 2026.

Francesco has been painting for over twenty‑five years and has devoted himself full‑time to his artistic practice since 2017. His work focuses on the visual and experiential dimension of cities, combining architectural sensibility with pictorial language. In recent years, his approach has deepened into an exploration of the underlying structures that shape urban space. While continuing to employ his established vocabulary — layering, fragmentation, and bold color — his practice has evolved in a more reflective and essential direction. In his paintings, the city increasingly gives way to an inquiry into the conditions that generate it, revealing how place is both perceived and constructed.

He has exhibited internationally, and his works are held in private collections worldwide, including those of Louis Vuitton, Cushman & Wakefield, T. Rowe Price, EGF International, and others.

When not painting in his studio, you might find Francesco riding his motorbike through the Hong Kong hills, chasing new views, or exploring the diverse landscapes of Asia in search of inspiration.