"Baby You're Much Too Fast"

“Baby You’re Much Too Fast” 48”x 40”, acrylic and mixed media on wood panel

Although Prince eloquently described the aura of the car in his famous song, he was a little late in coming to the party which officially began in the early fifties. The Stingray was the ultimate sex symbol on wheels. It drew crowds. It was rare and gorgeous. As kids, we drooled and dreamed as it passed us by. The split window was the rarest version of the car with it’s extraordinary backend. It has become an icon. An example of timeless design. When you see one today, time stops. You begin to wax nostalgic about drive-ins, diners, and- Where did the years go?
I am always delighted in the presence of such sculptural beauty as it reinforces the notion that good design, good art if you will, can transcend, and actually transport us to another time.

" Candid Moose"

“ Candid Moose” (Canada Dry) 48” x 48” acrylic on wood panel

I was commissioned to revisit a subject which I found most interesting. My version of the great Canadian icon reflects my deep belief in the inclusiveness of Canada as a society. The international reputation of the gentle giant of the true North has taken a beating of late with divisive rhetoric being given a dangerous platform by those who want to proliferate notions of a loosely knit federation on the brink of collapse.
The truth is that Canada may be stronger today than at any other time in history.
Enough politics. Back to the moose.
Back in the seventies, a then young Charlie Pachter (one of my favourite Canadian painters) envisioned the late Queen riding on a moose. That piece, with its unbridled dry humour and rudimentary freestyle looseness embodied the Canadian persona. It had a deep impact on me as an artist despite the ire it drew from the critics. It is now a national treasure.
My Canada Dry moose draws upon the rich tapestry of modern Canada for inspiration. As the great animal stops to refresh and drink, it rises out of the depths in a triumphant show of colour. The great crown stretches from “sea to sea”.
You just know that this is a benevolent moose.
Many thanks to the collectors who own the Candid Moose. It is truly an honour.

2022-Anthology

The 72"x72" canvas which is the opening act of 2022 is more of a collection of all that I have learned so far. It is, in a word, an Anthology. A summary of nuances and technical details which have preoccupied me in my sojourn into deeper abstraction. The constant flux between less is more and more is more- more or less. The struggle to deal with the illusion that you are controlling the narrative when you realize that something else is ultimately pulling the strings, and as an artist you are more vessel than wind. There are no bests, or champions in art. Context assures that every piece has its day in the limelight. Each piece has its own qualities. Once in a blue moon a piece comes along which encompasses, or summarizes or begins a new series. Anthology is such a piece. It bears the scars
of over four decades of obsessive contemplation of the nature of abstract painting as I have lived it thus far. The time spent in brutalist architecture and finding comfort there. The time studying the greats of the 20th century and finding comfort in their courage. The time teaching Art and finding inspiration in the optimism of youth. The time spent wondering and staring at a blank canvas and wondering: Where do I begin?

It is 2022...I am just getting started...
-Adamo

"The Crescendo in art of Pink Floyd"

When I was first asked to paint a work based on the history of the great band, Pink Floyd, my first thoughts were of mystery, darkness, and strong, lingering albeit somewhat somber melodies. In the journey of research and study of the band and its story, I became enlightened and I have concluded that the sum is far greater than its parts. The members of the band, both long-term and briefly, had to be extraordinary. Each contribution was critical considering the fact that solo efforts and collaborations with others paled by comparison to Pink Floyd. Rather than being a messenger in the dark, I have come to the conclusion that the art of Pink Floyd brings light. Light which begins in soft illumination only to reach blinding glory in crescendo.

Central messages coined over four decades ago by the band still resonate today. Their story is a story of life complete with tragedy and contradictions, strained relationships, delusions, agony and triumph. For the precious moments they found synchronicity, they created absolute magic. Ultimately, all great art serves as inspiration. Inspiring the next generation and the one after that. Shedding light on what is possible, and what is right. Celebrating humanity, even if is far from perfect.

Never has the notion of Gladwell's 10,000 hours been so evident. Each of the members was an accomplished musician, dedicated to the craft. I wanted to paint this: I felt like it. I was inspired by their art. It flowed for weeks through my studio, and eventually through the paint.

I am humbled by the notion that the recipient of this piece, though deserving as a good human and fan of the band is not the main beneficiary of the process- I am.

I am grateful to have been commissioned, and may art always inspire you.

Many thanks,

Pietro

" Whiter Shade of Pale"

Adamo’s latest figurative piece, “ Whiter Shade of Pale”, a 60” x 60” acrylic and mixed media on wood panel. The beautiful use of abstract composition and bold imagery are pure Adamo.

For any inquiries use our “Contact us” button below.

" DETONATOR"

There are only so many Where were you when...? moments in life. For my generation, and generations since, one could ask : Where were you when you first heard "Stairway to Heaven"?

Perhaps among the most important anthems of a time which followed the war in Vietnam, Watergate, Lunar Landing, Martin Luther King, The Beatles, JFK, RFK, the Cold War, and for Canadians: Expo 67 and Team Canada. It was a coming of age for a generation who practiced hiding under school desks in case of a nuclear attack. I was sixteen when I first discovered Led Zeppelin. It was 1971.

The arts, as always, provided the only true refuge. The Music scene, with all of the other arts, was keen to reflect this new direction. Alliances that seemed permanent were being broken in favour of new, more progressive ones, and in some cases, radically different ones. It was as if finally, the detonation had to happen. So who actually pressed the Nuclear Button in Music?

With all due respect to the great musicians of the period, the enduring impact of the "Big Blast" has to go to Zeppelin.

The privilege to complete a requested commission centered around one of the world's greatest guitarists has been a special one. I humbly thank Sandra and Craig. The included lyrics are from "Over The Hills and Far Away", a favourite of the collector, and my personal favourite, although it gets tougher to discern a "best" in such a wonderful body of work.

I will not delve into the band's history, or try to provide an essay to accompany the piece. The painting, like the cliche, is worth a thousand words. Perhaps tens of thousands. It does what it has to do: it takes you back to the feeling of the original impact through form and colour.

I'll only add this: Sometimes the only way to the light is by blasting open the darkness- and there lies the open road before you.

"DETONATOR", 70X64, mixed media on canvas, 2021, Commission, Private Collection

"The New Warholics and Visual Karaoke"

I will take this opportunity to humbly thank those artists (both living and passed) who have influenced my six decades of work.

That's right, I've been painting since my earliest recollections of finger painting in Kindergarten at Essex Street Public School near Christie Pits in Toronto. In all the time that I have been working, I scarcely recall a time where creativity has been devouring and regurgitating itself more than today. Please don't misunderstand me- art has always built upon the past.

What's different today is that many painters stop at what they think they've learned, and are content to offer a type of VISUAL KARAOKE as their own, without , in fact, "owning it". It is as if they are aware of a type of visual amnesia which has permeated the minds of the last couple of generations. When is a Warhol not a Warhol? When is a Pollock anything but throwing and splashing paint-he invented it, right? Or did he? Technique does not a style make! Or does it?

Let's make one thing clear: ART is about Freedom, Expression and a human need for outpouring. I get it. That is why I am simply observing and not judging. It's very exciting, this time of ultimate choice of media, throwing it all out there and offering it to the unsuspecting public as profound A..R...T....!!! Wow. Thank God for Damien, the Bitcoin of Art. He helped monetize all of this but wasn't alone in doing so. We now have temples to mediocrity sprayed upon unsuspecting walls with "mysteries" and stories" as components of "the piece", and to distract us from what might be rightfully perceived as a rudimentary stencil meant for the shredder at auction. Ah, but so meaningful and profound- but to whom? To the moneylenders and the philistines, perhaps?

"Grey is my favourite colour, I felt so symbolic yesterday. Mr. Jones and me. We stare at the beautiful women..........

IF I KNEW PICASSO.

" Broken Lens"

Adamo’s extraordinary use of colour , texture and design proliferate the canvas in this stunning portrait of John Lennon. “ Broken Lens” 40” x 72” Acrylic and mixed media on canvas. For any inquiries, contact us with our button below.

-JC( Curator)

" T.O.O" (The Only One)

All art invites criticism. Comparison. Judgement. Rejection. Acceptance. Reverence. It rarely occurs within the span of a single lifetime. The good artist borrows from the past and contemporaries. The great artist steals and creates something which exists as an entirely new way of treating the tried and true. It is a distillation process, resulting in a unique vision, taste or sound. The process overtakes the artist himself. The artist and his art become one, indistinguishable. This man, who hails from the G.T.A., with Ethiopian roots, has carved out a unique vision.

One could spend hours trying to identify influences in his body of work, but in the end, there is no denying something new has emerged. It’s more than pleasant or catchy or beautiful- and is there no more room for beautiful art?

Every time someone declares it’s all been done- the indefatigable soul of human creativity re-emerges.

So the artist distills his expression which often begins as “me too” into T.O.O.( The Only One)
- Adamo

2020

My sentiments at the beginning of 2020 were much in line with the general population: a mixture of optimism and apprehension. The apprehension soon dominated in that THE VIRUS took over life as we knew it. A creeping fear further arrested an already fragile economy. This, coupled with unusual politics (understatement) and voila: 2020: deadly year. The virus is not going away soon, despite the vaccines. Life may never get back to where it once was.

In all the negative news, however; there may be a message of new hope in that millions of people are re-prioritizing. So many of you have indicated to me that the fact we were "grounded" enabled you to spend time with family and friends- even if only through Zoom or Skype or phone. So many of you now know, as do I, that this precious life that we live, and the fragile planet we inhabit, must be cherished. Our kids, and grandchildren must inherit a place that we will leave as better than we found it . I know that in many ways, the world is much sicker in 2020 than it was in 1955, despite fresh memories of WW2, Hiroshima, Korea and the beginnings of the Cold War.

So this particular blog is my prayer of Gratitude for all of the strength that comes from adversity. Strength is the only thing worth praying for. It's what we all need to carry on and to do the good work we are here for. I will stop short of preaching- it 's not my place. I can speak only of what it is I am sure of: my art. In it, whether I like it or not, you'll always witness what's going on in the deepest parts my brain, and if you will, my heart. I've tried to catapult the positive vibes I have witnessed this year into my work, and this has resulted, in my humble estimation, in some of the the strongest pieces I have ever done. I am grateful for all of you who collect my work, or who simply follow my career. My hope is that you continue to experience the joy and wonder of creativity and that inspiration is the resulting gift of my art to you.

Pietro