ARTISTS Tommaso Romani
Tommaso Romani
Tommaso Romani is a young Italian artist whose practice has evolved from sneaker customisation into a broader and more mature form of artistic expression. What began as an intervention on footwear has progressively developed into the creation of unique works of art, moving beyond the concept of customisation to explore the relationship between contemporary art, illustration and popular culture.
His visual language draws inspiration from manga, animation, comics and the imagery of contemporary entertainment. Familiar characters, symbols and references are removed from their original contexts and reinterpreted through highly personal compositions, in which colour, detail and narrative play a central role.
Sneakers and everyday objects remain connected to Romani’s artistic origins, but they are no longer treated simply as products to be personalised. They become unconventional artistic supports: three-dimensional surfaces on which painting expands beyond the traditional canvas. Each object is transformed into a one-of-a-kind artwork, conceived as an independent creation and shaped around stories, memories and individual identities.
Romani frequently draws upon figures belonging to the collective imagination, from Japanese animation and superheroes to internationally recognised icons of popular culture. Rather than merely reproducing them, he combines images, signs and references to construct new visual narratives, establishing unexpected connections between apparently distant worlds.
The emotional dimension is fundamental to his creative process. Each work translates a passion, a memory or a personal story into a distinctive visual form. Through this approach, the original function of the object gradually disappears, giving way to an expressive artwork with its own identity and meaning.
His artistic development has led him to participate in events dedicated to contemporary art and visual culture, including Modena Nerd, where he has presented both his early custom creations and the more recent evolution of his artistic research.
In 2026, Romani takes part in Cartografie del caos, presented as part of Festivalfilosofia in Modena. For the exhibition, he creates a work inspired by the universe of One Piece, in which the map becomes the starting point of every adventure. Cartography is transformed into a symbol of exploration, freedom and discovery, connecting the historical tradition of the map with the imaginary geographies of contemporary culture.
Through his work, Romani transforms the visual codes of popular culture into a personal artistic language. His practice reflects a journey that began with customisation but now extends far beyond it, turning objects, images and shared symbols into original and unrepeatable works of art.
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