Studio Visit

The Studio Visit: Santi Caleca

Meet Santi Caleca, a renowned photographer whose contribution to Italian photography goes through the history of design, and discover his artworks revolving around the theme of representation. Caleca's photographic language is focused on interior design and architecture, and his encounter with Ettore Sottsass in 1977 earned him a friendship and collaboration that lasted for over 30 years.

On the scene since 1967, Santi Caleca worked as a photojournalist for the Palermitan newspaper “L’Ora” before moving to Milan for work. A fortuitous meeting with Casa Vogue’s former editor Isa Vercelloni in 1976 paved the way for a professional evolution, adapting the language of photography to interior design and architecture. His encounter with Ettore Sottsass in 1977 earned him a friendship and collaboration that lasted for over 30 years. Santi Caleca creates press campaigns and catalogs for renowned architecture firms, galleries, and museums worldwide.

Artemest meets Santi Caleca in his studio to talk about his life working with photography and the concept behind his artworks.

The inventor of the photographic art was the inventor of the most inhumane of all arts.

Thomas Bernhard

His contribution to Italian photography goes through the history of design, of which Caleca is interpreter and illustrator, bringing the language of reportage to the world of interiors. His artworks, revolve around the theme of representation: each design object acquires a unique meaning and a brand-new identity infused by the impressions that comes from each photograph.