Three minutes with Gino Campagnaro
Artist Gino Campagnaro chats to SALIFE ahead of his ‘The Italian Fiesta’ exhibition at Ex Animo Art Gallery, which runs until November 15.
Genevieve Tell us a bit about yourself – what was your path to becoming an artist?
Gino After decades as a creative director for top Australian brands and publishers, I stood at a creative crossroads. Living in Sydney and working in the fast-paced advertising industry, I found myself unexpectedly bound for Adelaide – a redundancy, the arrival of a baby girl, and the global pause of Covid 19 all collided in what I describe as “the perfect creative storm”. With a deposit ready for a new life in Adelaide – my wife’s hometown – I took the leap. It was my chance to either go back to the same life or cut loose and do something entirely different. That something different was painting.
Genevieve Can you describe your style?
Gino Though always an artist at heart, finding a consistent voice and style took time. Inspired by my upbringing on the South Coast of New South Wales and years living in Bondi, my early work focused on watery landscapes and coastal energy. But it was a 2019 trip to Palm Springs that crystallised my direction. I fell in love with the pools, the palms and that lazy, hidden desert life. I started painting the house we stayed in, owned, funnily enough, by a good friend from Adelaide. I then took the work to a Sydney gallery which took every piece and said, “Do more, quickly”. That’s when I knew I was onto something. My style now is unmistakable: a vibrant blend of architecture, leisure and escape, often exploring the intersection of mid-century design and coastal nostalgia. My “Amalfi” series draws on my Italian heritage and a deep admiration for the elegant lifestyle of southern Italy. More recently, my “Pastoral Modern” series examines Adelaide’s own unique balance of geometry and landscape, placing bold architecture amongst the fluidity of nature.
Genevieve What are you working on now?
You might like
Gino I continue to explore my vision of creating art that takes me and the viewer into a place of solace and a celebration of life.
My latest project, “The Italian Fiesta”, is a collaboration with Adelaide gallery Ex Animo Art, the only gallery in South Australia to represent my original work, offering a space where my practice is genuinely understood and thoughtfully-presented.
“The Italian Fiesta”, this October, celebrates Italian beauty and coastal life with an Amalfi-inspired twist. It’s like Palm Springs meets Positano – architecture, water, sunshine – but with Italian soul. The collaboration marks more than just a shared theme, it reflects a deeper alignment with the gallery, bringing together new works that honour my roots while capturing a renewed sense of joy, place and possibility.
Genevieve How does painting make you feel?
Subscribe for updates
Gino Painting, for me, is like stepping out of the world for a while. I close the studio door, stare at the canvas, and ask myself, “What can I create today that brings light into the world?” That kind of calling doesn’t go away. And if you ignore it, life never quite feels whole.
Genevieve How are you enjoying life in Adelaide?
Gino I don’t need to surf as much as I’m scared of great whites here. I am enjoying a different beach landscape here. I now enjoy the water from afar. But I love food and wine, and we visit wineries nearly every weekend. I cook for the family and take my four-year-old daughter to the beach here. The sunsets here are amazing. So, night walks on the beach and drinks with friends on the beach and large gatherings in our rustic/Tuscan style backyard are a typical summer vibe.
The Italian Fiesta runs from October 24 to November 15 at Ex Animo Art Gallery, 134 King William Road, Hyde Park.
This article first appeared in the September 2025 issue of SALIFE magazine.
