Who is Melkio?
Melkio was born in Genova in 1984 and he draws since ever. The concept of “since ever” is defined by himself in this way: “…Since I have memories I have always had a pencil in my hand and a piece of paper to scribble on. For me it is the most natural thing I could do, I always took it for granted…”
Melkio grew up with a deep passion for electronic music. He spent his youth traveling across Europe, exploring the best clubs, festivals, and raves, eventually becoming a promoter in the Italian scene.
Yet, his love for art was always present in one form or another.
He would carry markers with him to parties, drawing on people and, during that time, creating some of the characters that would later become central to his work.
Melkio began dedicating himself to art in 2020
This decision followed the development of several projects, including writing a theatrical show and creating visuals for the Sonar Off festival in Barcelona.
After years of immersing himself in music and experiences,
Melkio felt the need to fully channel his energy into his own creativity.
Inspired by Yoda’s philosophy, he focuses on cultivating his imagination while remaining attentive to market feedback. This approach has led him to build a path of collaborations, projects, and exhibitions.
Melkio’s style is evolving but we can safely place it in the Pop Surrealism.
Characterised by strong lines, marked edges and the use of few colours mainly primary.
Melkio’s works can be divided into several main collections, all acrylic on canvas.
Multiverso, where pop characters from different worlds come together in abstract and colorful landscapes. Each work is unique and, in its rectangular versions, can be oriented both horizontally and vertically.
Transformer, where Melkio creates colorful pop-surrealist portraits. The faces and bodies are composed of a mix of geometric and urban elements. Each work is unique.
Stripes, where Melkio creates pop portraits of famous people, both real and from film or comic book images, on a striped background. Each work is always handmade but repeatable.
Minivision, more minimal, repeatable works that illustrate romantic and reflective scenes, as well as characters from pop culture.
Voyager, unique works that tell the stories of some of Melkio’s characters: Cloud9 the superhero, Orion the astronaut, and Ai808 a robot.
The stories and characters represent and explore themes related to astrophysics and artificial intelligence, focusing on philosophical implications.
Annual Highlights:
2025
2025 marked a stylistic turning point for Melkio, who integrated color into his works, giving rise to the collections ‘Mini Vision,’ ‘Stripes,’ and ‘Multiverso.’
His artistic growth was reflected in strong international expansion: he began collaborations with new galleries in France and Canada and embarked on a French tour sponsored by Jaecoo and GruppoGe.
During the year, he was invited to Istanbul to present his audio-video performance ‘Dreams.’ At the same time, he began a new entrepreneurial journey by founding, together with his partner Claudia Failla, the Artichoke agency, which debuted with an educational project dedicated to art courses in Genoa.
2024
2024 represents a year of transition and experimentation for Melkio, dedicated to the search for a new stylistic genesis.
The pivotal event is the collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT): a visionary project that allows him to extend his gestures, “becoming a robot” to paint through it. This fusion of art and technology is not limited to performance, but evolves into a formal study, culminating in the publication of a scientific paper.
2023
2023 marked a turning point in Melkio’s career, as he consolidated his presence in the art market by initiating collaborations with new galleries. His stylistic research radicalized, focusing on a minimalist black-and-white language. At the same time, he opened his own studio in the heart of Genoa’s historic center.
It was a year of great visibility: he participated in the Dynamo Art Factory project (‘Art is Wow’) alongside masters such as Michelangelo Pistoletto, Giovanni Motta, and Andrea Crespi. The initiative included an exhibition in Pistoia and culminated with a final event at the prestigious Milan Triennale.
The artist’s international reach expanded to Dubai, where he curated an immersive installation at Kanvas and was the protagonist of a digital solo exhibition in the ‘Secret Room’ at ToDA. Melkio also continued his digital experimentation with an A/V performance based on techno music, building a conceptual bridge between his past life and his new artistic path.
2022
2022 marks Melkio’s expansion beyond the local borders. The artist launches a prestigious collaboration with the Giobagnara brand, designing exclusive collections for its Venice flagship stores.
His artistic journey also extends overseas: he participates in important digital art group shows in New York and Miami, exhibiting his work alongside prominent names like Bleep.
At the same time, he consolidates his presence in the Italian market by signing a publishing agreement that guarantees national distribution for his recordings.
2021
2021 marks Melkio’s artistic debut, as he takes his first steps by establishing deep roots in the cultural fabric of his hometown, Genoa. He finds a chosen space at the Teatro Stradanuova, transforming the foyer into a hybrid between a creative studio and an exhibition gallery open to the public.
During the year, he consolidates his presence in the area by opening a pop-up shop in collaboration with the historic Natoli jewelry store. Of particular note is the partnership with U.C. Sampdoria: the club entrusts him with the artistic furnishings of its new headquarters and involves him in a major charity project benefiting the Gaslini Children’s Hospital.
2020
In the silence of lockdown, Melkio chooses art.
A leap into the darkness that becomes light.
Show/exhibitions:
— 2026
🇮🇹 – Genova – ArteFiera
🇫🇷 – Lille – ArtWeek with Arnaud Rogez (13-15.03)
🇫🇷 – Paris – Melkioday by Ebay.fr and Galerie Montorgueil (29.03)
— 2025
🇮🇹 – Genova – ArteFiera
🇹🇷 – Istanbul – Dreams live@Idaf25
🇫🇷 – Lille – Arnaud Rogez@Canopy
🇫🇷 – Paris – Galerie Montorgueil
🇫🇷 – Roanne – Galeria Deza
— 2024
🇫🇷 – Lille – Live @Artup!
🇮🇹 – Genova – Human+Robot with IIT
🇮🇹 – Barga – Live painting@Bernabò Art Gallery
🇮🇹 – Biella – Montmartre gallery
🇮🇹 – Novara – Live painting@Legart Gallery
— 2023
🇮🇹 – Milano – Triennale: L’arte è wow
🇨🇳 – Hong Kong – The sound of Pixel
🇦🇪 – Dubai – Kanvas
🇦🇪 – Dubai – TODA
🇫🇷 – Lille – Arnaud Rogez Gallery
🇮🇹 – Olgiate comasco – Galp Gallery
🇮🇹 – Genova – A/V Live@Giardini Luzzati
— 2022
🇮🇹 – Milano – ArtFair with Legart
🇮🇹 – Novara – Legart gallery
🇺🇸 – New York – The Pixel Show
🇮🇹 – Pistoia – Dynamo art factory
🇺🇸 – Miami – The floating pixels
— 2021
🇮🇹 – Genova – Temporary gallery with Natoli
🇮🇹 – Genova – Sampcity presentation
— 2020
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