LONG WALK FROM AUSTRALIA TO ROMA – E ‘ndo so nato, vissuto, cresciuto e pasciuto
A solo exhibition by Giovanni Tozzetti
July 08 – 19, 2026
Palazzo Velli, Rome

ITSLIQUID Group is extremely proud to present “LONG WALK FROM AUSTRALIA TO ROMA – E ‘ndo so nato, vissuto, cresciuto e pasciuto”, the highly anticipated solo exhibition by Italian-Australian artist Giovanni Tozzetti. Hosted from July 08 to July 19, 2026 during the ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 18th Edition at the prestigious Palazzo Velli in Rome, this exhibition represents a profound emotional and creative homecoming, marking the definitive Roman showcase of a brilliant contemporary figurative artist.

Giovanni Tozzetti’s artistic journey is rooted in resilience and profound dedication. After losing his father at the young age of 13, his raw creative talent opened a path to survival and artistic purpose. He began working as an apprentice in his uncle Vincenzo’s prestigious art studio in Via Margutta, Rome, immersing himself in the local art scene by day and refining his technical skills at the State Art School by afternoon. Following his compulsory military service, financial responsibilities led him to work in technical sectors, eventually sparking a lifelong fascination with mechanical engineering and industrial design. After migrating to Australia and building a notable international artistic presence, Tozzetti now returns to his native city for what he envisions as his definitive exhibition in Rome, celebrating his deep emotional bonds with the city where his family still resides. This exhibition beautifully unveils the dual nature of Tozzetti’s mind, presenting a captivating mix of abstract geometric artworks and romantic figurative pieces. His profound inclination toward engineering breathes structure, calculating logic, and balance into his abstract geometries, where sharp lines and calculated spaces speak the language of modern design. Simultaneously, this technical precision serves as the silent anchor for his romantic figurative works, creating a striking visual tension. Visitors will experience a powerful dialogue between the cold, perfect harmony of shapes and the warm, poetic emotionality of human storytelling.

The core of Tozzetti’s artistic philosophy lies in his unique relationship with reality and image-making. From the beginning of his career, the artist identified photography as his primary competitor, recognising that paint alone risks falling behind the immediate accuracy of a camera lens. To solve this, he developed a meticulous figurative style that preserves the original proportions, essence, and raw emotional message of a photographic snapshot, completely avoiding any intellectual distortion or over-conceptual alteration. Tozzetti’s working method is deeply traditional yet uniquely structured: every single artwork begins its life on paper, meticulously rendered in pencil or charcoal. Once the composition achieves absolute precision, the artist uses carbon copy paper to transfer only the essential, vital lines onto the canvas. This technique strips away the unnecessary, leaving behind a striking, pure figurative narrative that captures the soul of the subject. This solo exhibition at Palazzo Velli represents a unique emotional journey, spanning decades, continents, and memories. It is an unmissable opportunity to witness the definitive Roman showcase of an artist who bridges the distance between Australia and Italy through the pure, essential power of line and life.

Giovanni Tozzetti – About
The artistic journey of Giovanni Tozzetti is a breathtaking testament to the power of heritage, precision, and raw emotion. Born in Rome in 1933, Tozzetti was destined for a life shaped by creative brilliance. He was raised within a family whose very lifeblood was art, surrounded by the legacy of his grandfather and two uncles, the renowned Italian sculptors of the Fiordigiglio family. As a child, Tozzetti breathed in the soul of classical art, learning the secrets of drawing and sculpture under the gentle guidance of his uncle Vincenzo. These formative years were spent inside a legendary atelier in Via Margutta, the historic Roman street where masters have gathered for centuries to capture beauty. To formalize this innate talent, he attended the prestigious Scuola Statale delle Arti in Via Gesu’ e Maria, a definitive chapter that completed his rigorous academic mastering of the fine arts. Yet, a true visionary never stands still. As his life progressed, Tozzetti’s fascination evolved, leading him to bridge the gap between classical beauty and modern structure. He turned his gaze toward mechanical engineering, a field that ignited a profound, lifelong passion for industrial design. For decades, he collaborated with various local and international engineering teams, infusing technical complexity with the poetic grace of his artistic upbringing. Today, Giovanni Tozzetti’s work stands as a magnificent dialogue between two worlds: the timeless soul of Roman fine art tradition and the sharp, powerful structural language of industrial design.

organized by ITSLIQUID Group
curator Luca Curci
associate curator Amaride Ferrante

VENUE
Palazzo Velli
Piazza di S. Egidio n. 10, Rome

OPENING
July 08, 2026 | 06:00 PM
RSVP: info@itsliquid.com
Free entry

EXHIBITION DAYS
July 09 – 19, 2026
Tuesday – Sunday . 10:00 AM – 01:00 PM & 03:00 PM – 07:00 PM

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ABOUT US

ITSLIQUID is a web-based information platform, founded in 2001 by Luca Curci, dedicated to the worldwide distribution of information about calls for entries, exhibitions and events at some of the world’s leading art galleries, museums and foundations. ITSLIQUID has already built a readership of more than 300.000 qualified subscribers. Among them are architects, designers, artists, collectors, art critics, curators, dealers, and other personalities of the International art, architecture and design world. It provides advertising services, press office services for events and projects, articles and specials published on the website, and media partnership services.

During the last 20 years, ITSLIQUID Group has become a cultural hub between creatives, exhibition spaces and art lovers. Among our international partners, Art Now Fair, Art Vancouver, Design Tokyo, INDEX Qatar, INDEX Saudi, The Big 5 Construct Dubai, The Big 5 Construct Qatar, Photo LA Los Angeles and international magazines like Art Style. ITSLIQUID Group supports some of the most important non-profit organizations, like UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, SSCS – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, One Tree Planted, The Ocean CleanUp and Plastic Oceans, with the goal to increase public awareness about environmental issues. Click here to find out more.

ITSLIQUID GROUP includes a section dedicated to the organization of international art events, managing exhibitions of painting, photography, video art, installation and performance; it organizes solo and collective shows, art residencies and international contests. Its object is to use new technologies to globalize the language of art, and to connect artists working in every part of the world.

ITSLIQUID Group manages a variety of art spaces all over the world; among them, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice and different historical buildings, ELEMENTS Contemporary Art Space in the London city centre and other partners worldwide. Since 2001, ITSLIQUID Group has organised over 350 international events, engaging more than 10,000 artists across over 60 global venues. Its initiatives have featured prestigious museums like the CCCB – Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona in Spain, the NCCA – National Center for Contemporary Arts in Moscow, the MuMo – Museum Montanelli in Prague, and the MUST Museum in Lecce, in addition to numerous galleries and private foundations. Thanks to its partnership with Sedition, ITSLIQUID has presented masters such as Bill Viola and Refik Anadol, offering high-level opportunities for young, mid-career, and renowned artists.

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OUR LOCATION

ITSLIQUID Art Space Rome – Trastevere

On the banks of the Tiber River, the magnificent ITSLIQUID Art Space Rome – Trastevere was built in the 15th century by the noble Velli family in Piazza S. Egidio, in the Trastevere district, just 2 km from some of Rome’s major attractions, including the Imperial Forums, the Colosseum and St. Pietro Basilica. The large courtyard, doors with the Velli coat of arms, the external staircase, one of a kind among the few that have survived in Rome, and the upper floors are some of the oldest and most characteristic elements of the entire structure. The Palazzo was renovated in the early 1970s, and the interior was reorganised to accommodate small residences. The salons, which now serve as exhibition spaces, were restored to their original state by removing the structures and equipment of the workshops that were present and abandoned, allowing for the rediscovery of the main structural elements and a fresco.