5 minutes with Francesco d’Adamo

Francesco D’Adamo is a talented Italian painter whose works have widely featured in exhibitions nationally, as well in publications, shows and collections throughout Europe. Seeking to create a wordless language through his art, he composes abstract paintings marked by broad, sweeping brush strokes, a highly pigmented colour palette and a soft musicality. D’Adamo draws inspiration from a range of artistic movements and figures including Informalism, Lyrical Abstraction and Willem De Kooning.

We sat down with Francesco d’Adamo to talk about his current projects, inspiration, and the start of his artistic career.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

Probably never, but I remember very well two very important moments: deciding to devote myself completely to painting and, years later, making it a profession. Both decisions were triggered by the vision of paintings and exhibitions that struck me deeply and that I still keep as true epiphanies. Their beauty, combined with the pleasure I felt in painting, have guided me so far.

Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?

I think there are day-to-day influences that don’t even have a name, others so far back in time that they continue to act in a way I’m not even aware of. And then there are more direct influences coming from all those people who in their disciplines have achieved something special in their own personal way (and fortunately it is a long list), ranging from Federico Fellini to Bela Bartok, who are constant references for me, even when unreachable. Speaking of painting, I would say that the strongest emotions come to me from the works of Burri, Afro, Sironi, Boccioni and De Kooning.

Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others?

It depends on what I’m doing, but in the act of painting I want to be alone. To my eyes being alone and painting are words that mean the same thing, and bring the same kind of pleasure. Other activities, such as what I did for many years in music, would not have made sense if not done together with other people.

Can you tell us about a project you’re currently working on?

I’m focused on bringing to its peak a series of works collected under the name “Manifesti” and I’m also working on some large commissioned paintings, which are always a mixture of joy and pain but whose making process can teach you a lot.

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t an artist?

I have always tried to turn my passions and interests into something I can devote myself to full-time, at a high level and with all my energy. All of them have always had in common the construction of narratives so, even if I am sure that painting will never leave my life, I would certainly look for another way to narrate what matters to me with another medium.

Are there other artists presented on Singulart whose work you like?

For sure, there are many interesting painters on Singulart. Among them I’ll pick Federico Pinto Schmid, several of his works are very close to my preferences.

What advice would you give to young artists starting out ?

My advice to them is the same I repeat to myself every day: to focus on the quality of your work, this is the most important thing. Spend less time online and more on the canvas, get a good space to work, experiment with materials and processes, go to exhibitions and see paintings from other people in person. Be hard in judging your own work and try to get to the heart of things, painting will find its own way to reward you.