Jago Defends Popular Appeal Over Critics in Palazzo Bonaparte Show

Jago, the Italian sculptor with 697,000 Instagram followers (surpassing Damien Hirst's 608,000 and Jeff Koons' 482,000), is the subject of a solo exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte in Rome, curated by Maria Teresa Benedetti and running until July 3, 2022. In an interview with Artribune's Giorgia Basili, Jago defends his broad public appeal against criticism from art world insiders, arguing that personal taste often trumps expertise. He describes his practice as building images that belong to everyone, citing an example of a Sri Lankan woman who touched his Pietà and prayed, attributing religious meaning to a work he did not intend as sacred. Jago reveals upcoming projects: a 3-meter Carrara marble sculpture of Ajax and Cassandra for Naples, made in Fercam's workshop near Rome, and a 5-meter female David, whose maquette is in his studio at Palazzo Bonaparte. He explains his use of a small stone as a signature linking recent works like Pietà, Figlio Velato, and Ajax and Cassandra. Jago discusses his social media strategy, which began out of necessity to sustain his passion, sharing the creative process to build audience engagement. He also outlines plans for an 'art hotel' where art becomes the focal point around which a space is built. The exhibition is organized by Arthemisia.