Shatto Gallery is pleased to announce Unrooted, an exhibition featuring the work of five Italian artists: Jeff Iorillo, Carlo Marcucci, Luigia Martelloni, Bryan Ricci, and Claudio Santini. This exhibition brings together five Italian artists, each based in Los Angeles but deeply connected to their Italian roots. Through a diverse range of materials, processes, and conceptual approaches, these artists explore the themes of displacement, transformation, and the intersections between different cultural worlds.

​

Unrooted challenges conventional notions of belonging and identity by celebrating those who thrive in the richness of diverse experiences and cultures. In contrast to the negative connotations of being uprooted or displaced, this exhibition explores the idea of being rooted everywhere—embracing the concept of a global identity that transcends borders.

Through art, the exhibition reflects the journey of individuals who have discovered strength and purpose not in fixed roots, but in the freedom of exploring new realities. Art, in this sense, becomes a tool for expansion, offering the possibility to connect with and understand the unfamiliar. It invites us to rethink the terms “welcome” and “acceptance” as invitations to explore the unknown, fostering curiosity and growth.

​

Unrooted  celebrates the power of art to break down boundaries—both physical and psychological—allowing humanity to find connection and meaning across the globe. Here, identity is fluid, dynamic, and shaped by the infinite possibilities of the world around us.The exhibition affirms that art doesn’t require roots or stability; it is magic, capable of turning dreams into discovery and transformation.

​

The exhibition is co-curated by Yujin Iris Jeong, Curator and Associate Director of Shatto Gallery, and Cynthia Penna, Curator and Director of ART 1307. Unrooted will be on view from March 1 to March 29, with an Artist Talk to begin at 3pm followed by the opening reception on Saturday, March 1, from 4 to 6 p.m.

​​​

Jeff Iorillo, a painter for over 20 years, first defined his artistic voice with his signature "Action Paintings." Through bold, abstract compositions, Iorillo explores the dynamics of mass, momentum, and gesture, reflecting a profound journey of artistic discovery that parallels his physical and emotional transitions between cultures. Iorillo has exhibited widely in Los Angeles and beyond, with recent solo shows at OFFUS Gallery and group exhibitions at SADE Gallery, Durden & Ray, Art Division, and others. His work has been featured in juried exhibitions at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Brand Library Gallery, and Torrance Art Museum, and he has shown internationally in Japan and Italy. 

​

Carlo Marcucci uses non-traditional materials to create works that reflect social and environmental concerns. His innovative pieces, such as the "Wheatfields" and "Staples" series, transform common objects into thought-provoking works that address global issues—whether it’s the role of processed food distribution or environmental degradation. Marcucci’s abstract geometric forms and figurative works reflect a deep sensitivity to both the human and environmental landscapes of his time.

​​

Luigia Martelloni, is an Italian visual artist, curator, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California and in Rome, Italy. Her work addresses social-political issues such as identity, memory, migration, climate change, and the refugee crisis, often exploring the relationship between nature and humanity. Working with multimedia installations, found materials, painting, photography, and video, her art reflects on the traces and fragments left by our existence and the environmental impact of human activity. Martelloni has exhibited nationally and internationally, with solo shows at Museo Laboratorio d’Arte Contemporanea Universita` La Sapienza, Rome. Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles. Vorpal gallery New York. Her work has been featured at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. Torrance Art Museum. American Academy in Rome. Quadriennale Nazionale Arte Palazzo Esposizioni Rome and the 54th International Art exhibition La Biennale di Venezia. As a curator, she organized De-Fence Art during the COVID-19 lockdown and curated Between Two Seas, a cultural international exchange project between Italy and Los Angeles. She received her MFA from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Entertainment study/directing courses at UCLA extension. Photography study at Santa Monica College.

​

Bryan Ricci investigates the intersection of abstract mark-making and landscape, using raw pigments and unconventional materials to create compositions that evoke natural environments. By blending gestural techniques with organic forms, he creates visual experiences that can be interpreted as landscapes while maintaining a distinct abstract quality. This approach allows his paintings to convey a sense of depth and movement, balancing the familiar with the unknown. 

​

Claudio Santini, an artist and photographer known for his unique exploration of architecture through the lens of abstraction, his work distills the complexity of urban landscapes into minimalist geometric forms, stripping away extraneous details to reveal the essence of the built environment. Santini’s photography transcends traditional architectural documentation, blending elements of painting and photography to create works that evoke a meditative silence. By reducing visual information to its core lines and shapes, his images offer a contemplative exploration of space, perception, and the inherent beauty found in the simplicity of architectural structures. Santini's work has been exhibited internationally, capturing the soul of cities like Los Angeles with a profound, almost spiritual intensity.​​​