Miami based French artist Rocco was born and raised in Nice by his Italian family.
Very creative at an early age, Rocco was attracted to and fascinated by 19th and 20th century artists. He was particularly inspired by surrealism/cubism movements and masters, including Picasso, Fernand Leger and Cocteau and by American expressionist as Basquiat.
Rocco chose to pursue a practical, successful carrier in economy/business and finance. Quickly, he decided this was not his path and returned to his first love: being creative, being an artist. Fascinated by geometric forms, colors, fashion and hair texture, Rocco changed direction of career and became a very successful hair designer wining numerous awards in France.
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Following his move to Paris, where he lived in Montmartre, Rocco pursued his passion for hair and fashion, met incredibly talented artists and worked in collaboration with the fashion industry.
Surrounded by museums, culture and artists that influenced his artistic vision, he created and kept many drawings a necessary part of his artistic expression.
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In 2006 Rocco moved to United States, first working for a high-end French franchise. Next, he established his own business as a successful hair designer. This business venture fulfilled his thirst for creativity for most of the time. Then, Covid and the world shutdown. Isolated at home and unable to care for his clients, Rocco decided to express himself through another universal language of visual art: Painting. Inspired by all the events that were happening in the world and delving deeply within himself as going to a psychanalysis, a series of artwork was the result.
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Now Rocco showcases his artwork, challenging the boundaries of colors and shapes expressing them in an abstract, cubism, surrealist form with portraits as his favorite genre for portrait for the endless opportunities to create colorful characters and pieces that are a reflection of himself, his dreams, his thoughts, his life, the complexity of human being, feelings, the world and what is our/his place in this world. Rocco reimagining all of this with mixed techniques and always a nostalgic nod to his heritage to create original pieces that leave the audience the freedom of interpretation.
Crossing different cultural experiences added more colors to his palette of diversity
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Rocco likes to think that life is full of never-ending surprises and a circle and should be lived to the fullest.
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