Nestled in the heart of Dolcedo — just a stone’s throw from the village church and town hall —lies the extraordinary Galleria d’Arte del Fulmine, founded by British artist Jim Overbeck. Jim Overbeck relocated to Dolcedo in 2012 from the United Kingdom, where he once co‑ran a bookshop in Birmingham.
Galleria History
Since 2012, alongside his wife Sue — also an artist — and close acquaintances including curator Ralph Kessler and Gillian Gilbert, he has transformed a local building into a breathtaking gallery and a work of art: both interior and exterior are richly painted, turning the structure itself into a vivid creative space.
Jim Overbeck’s personal journey is as dramatic as his art. He lived in Chelsea, London during the 1960s, then hitchhiked around the globe to Australia, and studied disciplines ranging from philosophy, logic, and mathematics (with a particular fascination for the infinite), to theology, and even experienced mystical visions of the divine.
These experiences deeply influenced both his prolific writing—including his major opus “The Autobiography of God Almighty“ (2003) — and the spiritual intensity of his paintings which can be seen in his Gallery.
Works on Display in the Galleria
Inside, dozens of Jim Overbeck’s works confront and engage the viewer. His style draws inspiration from the Christian visionary tradition — evoking Netherlandish masters like Hieronymus Bosch and Italian Renaissance artists such as Luca Signorelli.
Some pieces are intentionally unsettling: one painting, titled “The Mirror of Satan”, seems to shift and distort in the viewer’s perception. The imagery of Hell and demonic figures can be shocking, yet Jim Overbeck frames it within a classic spiritual lineage, aiming to provoke deep reflection rather than mere shock.
Visitors — many of them international — regularly report being astonished by its originality. As local friends Ralph Kessler and Gillian Gilbert emphasise, it’s singular — a one‑of‑a‑kind art space whose significance, they believe, will eventually be recognised globally.
Visiting
For those with an appetite for visionary, challenging Christian‑inspired art in an intimate rural Italian setting, the Galleria Arte del Fulmine offers a unique and unforgettable experience.
Opening hours – every day from 17.00 to 19.00, or by appointment with Curator Ralph Kessler (+39 3383807427)
Galleria Arte del Fulmine
Piazza Andrea Doria 11
Dolcedo, 18020, (IM)
Italy