Since being featured in the 2003 Venice Biennale, Papetti emerged as one of the most important Italian painters today.
His most noticeable influences include Francis Bacon and Alberto Giacometti, and his most recognizable body of work is focused on industrial archaeology, portraits and studies of nudes, frequently painted from a high-angle perspective.
[2] In 2014 Papetti participated in the exhibition Doppio sogno, curated by Luca Beatrice and Arnaldo Colasanti, held in Palazzo Chiablese in Turin.
The same year he also opened a show at the Palazzo della Penna of Perugia, entitled La pelle attraveso and curated by Luca Beatrice.
[3] In 1995 Papetti met the writer and biographer James Lord who wrote a significant critical essay on his work.