Giangiacomo
Rocco di Torrepadula

Giangiacomo Rocco di Torrepadula (born in Naples, 1966) is a visual artist and photographer. His work focuses mainly on the themes of hatred and prejudice, in particular concerning race.

Before becoming an artist, Giangiacomo was a serial startupper in the digital health space. He also lived in San Francisco, where he was able to witness from the inside disparities and racial discrimination.

It was a shocking experience, that led him to investigate these issues with the "Blind Sight" project, not only with an historical and sociological approach, but also from the point of view of the behavioral neurosciences. An unprecedented approach that he is carrying out internationally, to explore the mechanisms which can lead stereotypes and prejudices, to even turn into hate crimes.
Aware of how much a lack of empathy is the key problem in all “ingroup-outgroup” relationships, the author’s goal is to raise the awareness about the problem by arousing interest in it.

He made his debut in the early 2000s with two solo shows curated by Lanfranco Colombo, one of the greatest exponents of the history and diffusion of Italian photography.

Philippe Daverio inserts him in his book "13x17: 1000 artists for an eccentric investigation of Italian art" published by Rizzoli (2007).

In 2022 he won the prestigious New Post Photography Award from MIA - Milan Image Art Fair, the most important Italian fair dedicated to art and author photography.

He started a participatory mail art project entitled "A Postcard for Floyd" which already has over 350 contributions from people in the world of art and culture and from activists on racial issues. The project was presented at the last Centrale Festival 13 in Fano (2022). He exhibits his "Cages" architecture photos at Genoa Design Week 2022 in the ancient convent of Santa Maria di Castello.

He lives in Franciacorta where his studio is located and works all over the world.