Marco Adamo Italy, b. 1990

Marco Adamo was born on May 26, 1990, in Gallipoli, Puglia. He grew up in Alliste, in the province of Lecce, surrounded by the affection of his family, a constant point of reference throughout his life. From a young age, he developed a deep passion for football, demonstrating talent and determination.

In 2010, he joined Serie D in the Apulian championship, launching a promising football career. However, a period of deep inner crisis in 2015 prompted him to abruptly halt his athletic path. He then decided to move to Rome in search of a new direction.

It was in the capital that Marco Adamo discovered a new expressive dimension. Fascinated by contemporary art, he visited museums, explored galleries, read specialized magazines, and participated in artistic events. In this creative fervor, he managed to combine his two great passions: football and art. In 2018, he created his first work, Pallonata su tela (Ball Shot on Canvas). Here, the ball is no longer a sports equipment, but becomes his paintbrush. Immersed in paint, it is kicked repeatedly against the canvases, leaving prints of pentagons and hexagons that form dynamic compositions full of energy.

Marco Adamo's technique recalls Jackson Pollock’s Action Painting, where the artist acts as a medium between intent and result, leaving room for spontaneous gestures and randomness. Each ball shot is a symbolic act, a challenge against hatred, corruption, and violence. The canvases become imaginary playing fields where Marco plays a match for a better world, replacing darkness with the light of polychromy and creativity. The net is no longer a football goal, but a visual texture reminiscent of a beehive, where each mark contributes to the construction of a collective vision.

Since 2023, Marco Adamo has presented his work in various solo and group exhibitions. In 2024, the Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Lorenzo Viani in Viareggio dedicated the solo exhibition Palla al centro to his work, bringing together paintings and sculptures and extending into the city’s public spaces. From December 2024 to April 2025, L’Arte nel Pallone was presented in Cortina d’Ampezzo, featuring football symbols and club crests that highlighted the importance of belonging and unity.

From 10 March to 4 April 2026, SimonBart Gallery in Bologna hosted his solo exhibition Open Field, preceded by a performance at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium with Bologna FC players Lorenzo De Silvestri, Riccardo Orsolini and Federico Bernardeschi. Together with the artist, the players contributed to a collaborative artwork by kicking paint-covered footballs against the canvas, transforming the football pitch into a space for artistic creation.