In this instalment of the Culturalee Emerging Artists Series, we sit down with Italian surrealist artist Salvatore Lizzio to explore a practice rooted in synthesis, silence, and essential form. Born in Sicily, Lizzio lives and works in Milan.
Known for his clean, distilled visual language and saturated oil paintings, Lizzio creates works that move beyond representation to capture the inner truth of objects, landscapes, and memories. From meditative studio rituals accompanied by classical music to the spontaneous “visions” that emerge on his canvas, Lizzio shares how his artistic style has evolved, what inspires his surreal aesthetic, and how feeling – rather than imitation – guides every brushstroke.
How would you describe your artistic style and aesthetic, and how has it evolved since you began your creative journey?
I would define my style as Synthetic. A language of synthesis that aims at the essential, and in the essential I find truth. My painting does not reproduce the object as it appears, but rather seeks to capture its essence through simplification. Simplification refers to a purified reality. Over time, my painting has evolved towards a “clean” image.
What does a typical day in your studio look like – from your creative rituals to how you develop and refine your work?
My day in the studio usually begins with a preparatory phase that introduces me to a creative dimension. I start by listening to classical music for about 10-15 minutes. Then I turn off the music and, in absolute silence, I stand in front of the painting in a sort of meditation-listening. I “enter” the painting to understand how to act and how to proceed. Then I spread the colors on the palette and start painting.
My painting is created in the moment and often deviates from the initial image I started with. Sometimes, unexpectedly, I capture “visions” that arise on the canvas and transform them into painting. All my paintings are oils on canvas, so each layer of color must (generally) dry before the next one is applied. The painting is finished when my eye is satisfied.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations, and how do they influence the themes or techniques present in your art?
The sources of inspiration for my painting can be very varied. An everyday object, a landscape, a memory.
Photography can be helpful to me. I use photos taken during my travels or in everyday life. The choice of what to paint depends on how I feel. Feeling the object, feeling the landscape. It is my eye that captures those vibrations that resonate within me, which I then transfer onto the canvas with saturated, dense colors.
Follow Salvatore Lizzio here.
All images Courtesy of Salvatore Lizzio.
