Leone Minassian (1905–1978; Armenian: Լևոն Մինասյան, romanized: Levon Minasyan) was an Ottoman Empire-born Italian painter and printmaker, of Armenian descent.^[1] His work is an important representative of European post-war abstract painting.^[2] Minassian lived in Venice for more than 40 years.^[3]

Leone Minassian was born on May 8, 1905, in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire to Armenian parents.^[4] His mother was writer Iskouhi Minas, and his father was Zhan Minasyan, the editor of the French periodical "Patri".^[5][6] He started painting in this youth.^[7]

Minassian has been attributed to studying art at Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia,^[2][8] as well as under many notable artists, including Leonardo De Mango;^[9] Albert Mille (1882–1946);^[9] in Naples under Danish painter Axerl Jarl [da];^[7] and in Venice under Italian painter Alessandro Milesi.^[10]

Minassian's early art was influenced by futurism, surrealism,^[8] and the art of Giorgio De Chirico. He was friends with artists Alberto Viani, Giuseppe Santomaso,^[11] Giorgio Morandi, and Jean Arp.^[12]

After World War II, Minassian found his own painterly language and his art began to receive international attention. His pictures are characterized by intertwined, plant-like shapes and/or bodies in diverse colors. He took part in the group exhibitions II. documenta in Kassel in 1959,^[13][14] and the Venice Biennale in 1961.^[2] His work can be found in the art museum Ca' Pesaro in room 7.