MARCO BACIOCCHI
Marco Baciocchi is an eclectic, experimental photographer. And maybe even a Time Traveler who landed on Earth. Originally from Roma, now based in Bologna, born in '61, with a degree in physics and a background in computer science and algorithms, he's been behind a camera since he was a kid, driven by an insatiable passion for experimentation and innovation that, over the past decade or so, has found its full expression in visual art. With his scientific background — unusual in the art world — he's able to see the world through a unique lens. His photographic interests range from fine art to portraits and events, and even extend to AI-driven digital art. In every case, he doesn't just capture images: he digs for deeper dimensions and meanings, unearthing emotions and letting them speak directly to the soul. He uses camera and post-production the way a painter uses a brush, blending artistic vision with a technical mindset in a mix of creativity and precision. He experiments with materials and detail, which he loves to control thanks to his lab experience, and sometimes with multimedia and creative editing. He's driven by a pioneering spirit that's the beating heart of his work, always juggling one or more ongoing projects in a constantly fueled creative whirlwind. His work portrays light and shadow — brightness and decay, both of the world and of the soul. Through empathy, he chases the world's whispers, translating them into images that become kaleidoscopes of emotion, with colors and effects intertwined with ancient dreams. His portraits search for intimacy, emotion, and depth in every individual. In other projects, he dives into the parallel universe of AI to find unexpected perspectives or give his shots a surreal edge. He also brings his camera to public, private, and sports events, always hunting for that one special spark. His exhibitions include — most recently — a group show at Casa di Dante in Firenze from June 3 to 15, 2023, and a solo show at Art Hotel Commercianti in Bologna from October 18, 2023 to April 11, 2024, along with publications both in print and online from clients who've featured his photos. On social media and his own website, he shows his work often paired with carefully chosen or created texts — sometimes developed together with AI, shaped to add extra layers of meaning to his pieces. His work is available as high-quality prints, in some cases as limited, fine-art editions — fragments of his creativity that also serve as investment pieces. He's also present on a few NFT marketplaces with some AI-based works. Some of his photographic collections: "Antiqua" — images carrying the flavor of ancient visions "Rifrazioni" — where the world refracts, shifting its point of view "Urban Woods" — where the city at night reveals urban architecture that turns into forests "Ispirazioni" — letting the mind wander free "Lands" — clean images that tell the story of the world, opening windows like design elements
ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES
1977–1985: Shooting film with a Nikon, focused on portraits and landscapes. 2002–2014: Picks up a camera again, this time digital. Deepens his understanding of the medium and produces work that's well-received but not yet shown publicly. From 2014: Moves into fine art production, thanks both to personal research into post-production algorithms and to a sharpening of his shooting technique. Finds himself drawn to chasing light and emotion. His first fine art project is "Inspirations," which remains the main thread of his artistic output to this day. 2014: First photography show, held in a pub in Bologna. From 2014: Regular participant in the group exhibition Saragozzarte, an art event held every year at the end of September in Bologna's Saragozza neighborhood. 2014: Experiments with his own empirical technique to "restore" images of paintings covered in grime and grey buildup, applying it to frescoes in a historic Bologna palazzo, and later to an oil-on-wood painting that had been losing its color over time. From 2015: Takes on complex photo shoots (events, portraits, product catalogs, interiors, weddings, etc.), also drawing on his empathetic sensibility. 2016: Sets up a home photography studio, mainly for portraits and shots of artworks. From 2020: Collaborates with a Bologna-based artist (painter and sculptor) on photography with two goals — documentary shots that stay faithful to the original works, and creative shots, especially (though not only) of sculptures, using photography and lighting to add extra meaning and emotion to the pieces, always working alongside the artist. One example: creating POV shots by playing with light around the sculptures — a kind of "art within art." 2021–2022: Develops his own technique for photographing paintings affected by strong, distracting reflections (which most of them have) using portable lighting. From 2021: Steps up his portrait work, including children and families. His studio portraits are described by viewers as Caravaggesque, partly due to his strong preference for black backgrounds. Zeroes in on his own focus: creating images that convey emotion. From 2021: Shoots fashion events and similar work, producing books/portfolios. As of 2025, this makes up around 30% of his time. 2021–2022: Uses a drone to experiment with new points of view. 2021–2022: Photographs a series of apartment interiors. From 2021: Starts producing striking wide-angle images, including shots of Bologna's buildings that get strong engagement on local social media. From 2022: Launches the fine art project "Antiqua" — his own photos, post-processed using very specific parameters developed through personal research, including algorithmic approaches, to create timeless images that often evoke old paintings. These works have an immediate, strong impact with the public. From 2022: Starts using generative AI to create images with artistic intent. This gives rise to parallel projects distinct from his "ordinary" photography, clearly separate in the viewer's eye. The resulting images feel almost-real, like a parallel universe we get to peek into. He uses generative AI in two ways: creating images from scratch — the main project here being "NeoBaroque," a series of realistic images of women sharing carefully chosen and curated features and poses, paired with surreal clothing, also used as backdrops at fashion events; and creating hybrids of real photos and AI contributions — pushed further in the "Inner Circle" project, blending the two worlds seamlessly into realistic images. June 2023: Takes part in the group exhibition "Il respiro dei mondi," organized by Eclipsis Style Project at Casa di Dante in Firenze, from June 3 to 15, 2023, showing several sky-themed photos fitting the exhibition's Dante-inspired context. 2023–2024: Gets into NFTs applied to his artistic output; some digital works are minted on blockchain and listed on NFT marketplaces. October 2023–April 2024: Solo exhibition "Visions" at Hotel Commercianti, Bologna, showing around twenty of his works, mostly centered on Bologna. From 2024: Starts producing "Art Frames" — small-format (generally no larger than A4) fine-art paper prints in lightweight, archival cardboard frames. Given how they're made, the research behind them, and the handcrafted process (each one produced individually by the artist), they stand as small artworks in their own right — though, unlike their larger counterparts, they're priced much lower, reaching a far wider market. The Art Frames are an immediate hit, featuring mostly his own fine art photos alongside shots of other artists' work. From 2024: Permanently displays some works in select shops and professional spaces in Bologna and the Maremma area. December 2024: Takes part in the 1st edition of the "Visioni" International Art Prize, organized by the Associazione Culturale Athenae Artis, Salerno, December 7–14, 2024. June–July 2024: Solo exhibition "Visions" at Bar Cult 46 in Novellara, known as a hub for local artists. March 2025: Group exhibition "Correggio in arte," March 9–18, organized by "Noi nell'Arte" and Maria Daolio, Correggio (RE). Alongside several painters and a sculptor, he presents both works from the Antiqua project and numerous Art Frames. 2025: His name appears in various local newspapers in the areas where he has exhibited.