Roberto Ferrando (Robfersette): Between Nature, Myth, and the Freedom of Abstraction

In the contemporary Italian art landscape, where tradition and experimentation often intersect, Roberto Ferrando - known artistically as Robfersette - occupies a space defined by equilibrium. His practice moves fluidly between abstraction and figuration, drawing strength from nature, mythology, and the emotional resonance of the human figure. Based in Genoa, Italy, the city where he was born and continues to live and work, Ferrando has developed a visual language that is both instinctive and reflective, rooted in drawing yet expanded through painting and mixed techniques.

Ferrando’s work does not seek spectacle or excess. Instead, it offers a quiet intensity, inviting viewers to pause, observe, and reconnect with internal states often overlooked in everyday life. His participation in 100 Artists of Italy, curated by Culturale Lab, marks an important step in bringing this introspective vision to an international audience.

Early Foundations: Drawing as an Inner Necessity

Ferrando’s artistic journey began in childhood, through drawing. This early engagement was not driven by formal ambition but by a natural impulse to observe and translate the world through line and form. Over time, drawing became more than a practice - it evolved into a personal refuge and a means of emotional articulation.

A decisive moment occurred in 2009, following a profound family loss. In the aftermath of this experience, Ferrando returned fully to drawing, embracing it as a way to process grief and restore inner balance. Rather than closing in on himself, he transformed personal pain into a renewed dedication to art. This period laid the emotional and conceptual foundations for his later work, reinforcing the belief that creation can serve as both healing and continuity.

By 2007, he had begun producing his first oil paintings, expanding his practice from paper to canvas. In 2010, his work entered the public sphere through his first local exhibitions, marking the transition from a private discipline to a shared artistic dialogue.

Materials and Technique: From Brown Paper to Oil on Canvas

Ferrando’s material choices reflect his respect for simplicity and tactility. He works with brown paper, cardboard, and oil on canvas - surfaces that emphasize texture, gesture, and the physical presence of the mark. Drawing remains central to his process, even when working on canvas. Lines are never merely preparatory; they carry meaning, rhythm, and intention.

His drawings are often described as leaving a “unique trace,” while his paintings evoke echoes of ancient or classical styles without becoming nostalgic. Rather than imitation, these references function as structural anchors, grounding contemporary expression in a longer visual memory.

This balance between discipline and freedom mirrors Ferrando’s own definition of his work: an equilibrium between the rigor of nature, the symbol of myth, and the freedom of abstraction.

Themes and Visual Language

Ferrando’s imagery moves across a wide spectrum: abstract portraits, landscapes, human figures, mythological references, studies of nature, and still lifes. Despite this diversity, his work is unified by recurring themes - identity, duality, eternity, structure, and atmosphere.

Human figures in his compositions are rarely descriptive. They appear as presences rather than portraits, carriers of psychological states rather than individual identities. Mythological elements function symbolically, offering archetypal frameworks through which contemporary emotions can be explored. Nature, whether depicted directly or abstracted, provides both form and rhythm, reinforcing a sense of order amid expressive freedom.

His landscapes and still lifes are not observational records but emotional environments. They suggest spaces where time slows down, allowing contemplation and introspection. Across all subjects, Ferrando seeks to generate a sense of positivity - not superficial optimism, but a quiet reassurance grounded in balance and continuity.

Art as Emotional Transmission

At the core of Ferrando’s practice lies a clear intention: he wants viewers to feel emotionally uplifted through his work. This is not achieved through explicit narrative or didactic symbolism, but through atmosphere, harmony, and compositional restraint.

His art invites the viewer to look beyond the visible surface, to search for what is eternal within detail and what is emotional within the gesture. In this sense, Ferrando’s work aligns with a long tradition of art as contemplation - an invitation rather than a declaration.

Music, travel, life in both city and countryside, and direct engagement with nature all serve as sources of inspiration. These influences do not appear literally, but they shape the emotional cadence of his compositions, contributing to their sense of internal coherence.

Joining 100 Artists of Italy

Ferrando discovered the 100 Artists of Italy project through a friend who recognized an alignment between his artistic values and the editorial vision of Culturale Lab. The project’s emphasis on curated presentation, international visibility, and respect for individual artistic identity resonated deeply with him.

For Ferrando, participation represents an opportunity to present his work within a professional, carefully structured publication that reaches audiences beyond local boundaries. Being part of an international publishing project allows his work to enter a broader cultural conversation, connecting his personal journey with a global artistic context.

More than visibility, the project offers a sense of belonging to a contemporary network of artists who, despite diverse practices, share a commitment to authenticity and depth.

Looking Forward

Today, Roberto Ferrando continues to work steadily, focused on developing new works and exploring future projects. His approach remains grounded and disciplined, guided by curiosity rather than urgency. Creation is not framed as production, but as an ongoing process of refinement and discovery.

Rather than outlining specific milestones, Ferrando’s future goals center on continuity: to keep creating, to remain attentive to inner movement, and to allow his work to evolve naturally over time.

His final message to viewers encapsulates the spirit of his practice: art as an invitation to look beyond the visible, to seek the eternal in detail, and to find emotion within the mark.

Instagram: @ferrandrobert7
Facebook: Roberto Ferrando
Project: 100 Artists of Italy – Culturale Lab
Open Projects - Culturale Lab