Liam Santoleri

I walk. Each footstep creates my path. Before I start walking, I use a topographic map and my imagination to read the landscape. I first envisage the walk, then I go. Reaching a peak, descending into a valley, touching a point on the map. I walk along apredefined course. I follow a sound or instinctively arrive at an unknown point. When walking I create. Straight lines. Geometric shapes. I follow the lines of a ridge. The shores of a lake. The territory I pass through inspires me. I walk along the backbone of the mountain, over the jutting rocks, I’m fascinated by the contour lines and the curves which illustrate the map and I like to shadow imaginary lines along the ground.
Walking is everything and all is resolved in walking. I document my activity. Each project has a date, the geographical coordinates of the areas I pass through, the hours and minutes taken.
During each walk I leave a delible trace. I use diverse materials. The culmination of my experience on the ground is the staging of a “site-specific” work; further elaboration results in an exhibition. The “site-specific” works are a promise made to the territory which I cross, through which I travel, to the place which hosts me. When I leave a lamina of metal, a length of
c...

William (Lliam) Massimiliano Santoleri was born in Guardiagrele – CH in 1971. After completing his higher education in Abruzzi, he chooses to continue his university studies in Rome. His contact with the artistic world begins at l’Accademia di Belle Arti, under the guidance of professor Antonio D’Acchille founder of neomannerism school in Rome. He subsequently graduates with degree in History of Art, from university “La Sapienza” in Rome. In 1996 he wins the silver at Premio Arte Mondadori in Milan, and from that moment, he dedicates more and more time to painting and photography. In 2002 he moves to Parma where has a artist studio in the heart of the town. He travels frequently around Europe, maintaining a close bond to his land where he often returns to find inner peace and artistic inspiration, spending long periods in the solitude of the woods and mountains of Abruzzi. He receives various awards (Premio Arte, Celeste Prize, DipingEremo). He is a member of the Italian Mountain Guides Association. Today he uses his walking as an inexhaustible font for artistic inspiration. He has taken part in numerous solo and group exhibitions and from 2011 untill 2019 was a member of ADAMstudio11 with Francesca Consigli.

solo exhibitions

2025 RAW 10th, Rome Art Week, open studio, 24th october 2025, Rome, Italy.

2024–2025 “La prima parola è coesistere – 1# Sleeping stones”, december 2024 – february 2025 (ongoing), /FURBA/ curated by Simone Marsibilio, Guardiagrele, Italy

2019-2021 “Nine trees and one voice”, sculptures for “Paolo dei Lupi” scenography for theatral show writtend and performed by Francesca Camilla D’Amico, directed by Roberto Anglisani, around Italy and Switzerland

2017 Fotografia Europea, Reggio Emilia, April 29th – June 24th, Galleria 8.75 Artecontemporanea, as a ADAMstudio11 member with Francesca Consigli

2016 Revisiting “Eremo” – Open Studio – PineCube – July 12th, PineCube, Majella (Abruzzi)

2015 Prague. Italian Culture Institute (Istituto Italiano di Cultura) – September 24th – October 8th 2015, as a ADAMstudio11 member with Francesca Consigli

2010 “La foresta proibita” CSArt Vetrina, curated by Chiara Serri, Reggio Emilia, Italy

2008 “Human Cube”, Palazzo dell’Annunziata, curated by Leo Strozzieri, Sulmona, Italy

2007 “William Santoleri” circolo del Castellazzo, Parma, Italy

2006 “William Santoleri”, La Table, curated by GURU, Parma, Italy

2005 “William Santoleri, alberi” La Feltrinelli bookshop, curated by R. Ceresi...