Daniele Innamorato on Painting, Chaos, and the Eternal Urge to Create
Milan-based artist Daniele Innamorato (born 1969) discusses his practice in an interview, emphasizing his non-academic formation rooted in post-punk, new wave, and underground culture. He cites influences from Van Gogh, Bacon, Twombly to Warhol, Haring, Basquiat, and musicians like Talking Heads and Dead Kennedys. Innamorato describes his work as a 'total chaos' driven by instinct, with series ranging from fast Cellophane paintings to labor-intensive collages, such as the 350×500 cm piece at Marsèlleria in 2017, composed of 200 cut-up 50×70 cm paper paintings. He co-founded the collective KINGS with Federica Perazzoli, spanning video, photography, design, and fashion. Innamorato sees painting as 'eternal' yet 'primitive,' a vital obsession despite producing thousands of works. He criticizes the Italian contemporary art system but acknowledges many talented painters. The interview is part of Artribune's 'Pittura lingua viva' series.
Key facts
- Daniele Innamorato was born in Milan in 1969 and lives and works there.
- He co-founded the artistic collective KINGS with Federica Perazzoli.
- His recent solo shows include 'No Like Tomorrow' at Marsèlleria, Milan (2017), 'Don’t Stop' at Galleria Massimodeluca, Mestre (2017), and 'O Russet Witch!' at Plus P, Milan (2015).
- Group exhibitions include 'Buoni come il pane' at Triennale Milano (2019) and 'I Lari' at Triennale Milano, Galleria Antonio Colombo, Superstudio, and Moscow Design Week (2018).
- Innamorato cites influences from Van Gogh, Bacon, Twombly, Warhol, Haring, Basquiat, Josef and Anni Albers, Morris Louis, Ellsworth Kelly, Man Ray, and David Hockney.
- He describes his formation as underground and non-academic, shaped by post-punk, new wave, clubs, drugs, and sex.
- His collage at Marsèlleria (2017) measures 350×500 cm and consists of 200 cut-up 50×70 cm paper paintings.
- Innamorato's series include 'Cellophane' (painted in minutes) and 'Inguardabili' (impossible to focus, made with spray dots).
- He worked as an assistant to fashion photographers Albert Watson, Aldo Fallai, Walter Chin, and Bob Krieger at Studio 117 in Milan.
- The interview is part of Artribune's 'Pittura lingua viva' series.
Entities
Artists
- Daniele Innamorato
- Federica Perazzoli
- Vincent van Gogh
- Francis Bacon
- Cy Twombly
- Andy Warhol
- Keith Haring
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Josef Albers
- Anni Albers
- Morris Louis
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Man Ray
- David Hockney
- Damien Hirst
- Sterling Ruby
- Christopher Wool
- Dash Snow
- Rudolf Stingel
- Maurizio Cattelan
- Roberto Cuoghi
- Rodolfo Dordoni
- Giorgio Verzotti
- Albert Watson
- Aldo Fallai
- Walter Chin
- Bob Krieger
- Pablo Picasso
- Raymond Pettibon
- Bruno Munari
- Antonia Campi
- Damiano Gullì
Institutions
- Marsèlleria
- Galleria Massimodeluca
- Plus P
- Triennale Milano
- Galleria Antonio Colombo
- Superstudio
- Moscow Design Week
- Parson School
- KINGS
- Studio 117
- Deitch Projects
- Artribune
- Il Sole 24 Ore
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Mestre
- New York
- Moscow
- Russia