On the other side of “the boot”, the city of Pescara in Abruzzo has drawn me in thanks to a dear friendship. My history with this Adriatic town is long – my family traveled there when I was a child, and I still recall the Hotel Excelsior, the wide promenade and gelato in glass cups. […]
These are the works on paper and abstract hand bound books that came out of an artistic residence in Kama (Fukuoka) Japan. The retreat was led by Monica Dengo and Satsuki Hatsushima, two calligraphic artists from different traditions whose styles complement one another. During the retreat, we explored our own personal mark-making, in the […]
My journey to the Japan’s ancient capital city, Kyoto, was a feast for the senses. In my mission to uncover the hidden gems of this enchanting city, I embarked on a cultural adventure that led me to the several museums, many temples, a Palace and a hidden gem art gallery – not to mention numerous […]
In the heart of Tokyo for 36 hours, I embarked on a creative adventure of my own design. With limited time, there were only so many places I could physically see and absorb. The result was an exciting itinerary filled with contemporary art, design and pop culture, a slice of life in the Tokyo subway […]
This March 2023 marked a major milestone in my career as an artist and writer. I created my 100th Iconic, I live for beauty, from my Iconics / Poetics series. When I began making the works that would eventually become the Iconics / Poetics series, the intention was to give a gift to my patrons and […]
Every once in a while, I pay homage to a wardrobe item. My preferred focus is one that sits on the fine line between essential and frivolous. Between late March and early May in Rome, there is a brief window where this particular item is used, and then… it vanishes along with any hope for […]
The process of creating a three-minute “evergreen” video is both exciting – and painstaking. For the past year, my Studio team and I have worked on realizing a new promotional video that would reflect my current and forthcoming design world. These videos require extensive preparation (once considered short, but in the new age of the […]
I’ve always got my eye on the world of fashion, where new collections emerge continuously, allowing for a constant flow of inspiration. Occasionally, a designer’s work will push through into the realm of the extraordinary for me. This happened with Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Fall collection for Christian Dior. A tribute to India, the collection […]
I’m deeply excited to announce the launch of my online guide to my adopted city: #NewYorkerinRome. This directory has been long in the making, and it’s always evolving. I’ve been curating top spots in Rome for as long as I’ve lived here (since 2006)! I’ve spent countless hours exploring every corner of Rome, from the […]
White Lotus is a show that combines entertainment and artistry in a truly innovative way, a rare and refreshing combination. When a few trusted friends first recommended White Lotus to me, I was resistant. I avoid anything overly dark or even provocative – I prefer to keep my influences beautiful. I took the leap – […]
Rome is a cinematographer’s delight – and in the case of a forthcoming film, the context of a tourist’s awakening. My son Ludovico Benedetti and I were cast as mother and son in a brief scene in this movie directed by the Danish filmmaker Niclas Bendixen (seen in the top photo). I’ve often been on […]
A forthcoming exhibition will feature recently restored manuscripts from the archive of the Bibilioteca of the Sacro Convento – the great library of the St Francis Basilica in Assisi. As the lead designer of the show’s brand identity, I was invited to step into the halls of this hidden gem and peruse the medieval tomes. […]
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