What inspired you to create art and become an artist?
I want to create. Luckily I discovered dance and photography. Watching dancers express emotions that words often fail to convey made me want to preserve those fleeting moments forever.
What is your artistic background, the techniques, and subjects you have experimented with so far?
As a professional dancer and choreographer, movement was my first language of expression, and that foundation fuels everything I create. My first love as a creative is choreographing.
Performing in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake ignited my fascination with storytelling through the body. Transitioning into photography, I wanted to capture the ephemeral beauty of dance—the fleeting moment when artistry, technique, and raw emotion converge.
I trained as a professional dancer, so I understand the nuances of movement and performance, like choreographing,dancing and breathing together!
My primary subjects have been contemporary and classical dancers, also monks, pole dancers as well as capturing dance in unconventional environments.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
1.Dancer’s Perspective: As a former professional dancer with Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, and choreographed at Royal Opera House and World Dance Alliance, I bring an insider’s understanding of movement, technique, and emotion. This allows me to anticipate and capture the perfect moment when a dancer’s artistry is at its peak.
2. Energy: I love jumping, I love full of energy, I love to go to the max. I love energy and persistence more than everything else!
3. Less planning: We usually find the magic when we choreographing together during the shoot without much planning ahead
Where does your inspiration come from?
Inspiration comes from dancers themselves—their discipline, grace, and humanity. I’m also deeply inspired by nature’s rhythms, visual art, and personal memories. Seeing how light falls on a subject or how a movement builds in rehearsal can spark ideas for an entire series.
I love comics, movies, music and sports !
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations, or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
I aim to evoke the visceral intensity of dance—its beauty, vulnerability, and power. Through my photography, I want viewers to feel like they’ve stepped into a fleeting moment of motion, to sense the breath, strain, and release of a dancer’s body.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process?
The process is deeply spontaneous. While I might come into a shoot with a loose concept or emotion I want to capture, I let the moment guide me. Working with dancers is like we are dancing together —it’s about responding to energy, movement, and how the light interacts in real time. Often, the best images come from unexpected moments, where instinct takes over, and the art reveals itself organically. It’s about staying present and trusting the flow.
Do you use a particular work technique? If so, can you explain it?
Single shoot mode. That is the fun and challenge but also the belief.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
I’ve integrated my choreography background into photography by treating photo shoots as performances. I also combine dance and photography with projection mapping, layering imagery onto live dancers to create immersive installations that blur the line between stillness and motion.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop, or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I work in a studio equipped with professional lighting and ample space for movement. When shooting on location, I bring portable gear. My studio is meticulously organized to accommodate collaboration with dancers and technical experimentation.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
That's one of the best parts of being an artist! I have travelled to more than 30 cities exhibiting my art, performing, choreographing and exploring!
These experiences enrich my creative perspective and help me connect with collectors, dancers, and choreographers from diverse cultures.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
I want my work evolving toward difficult cultures
What is the theme, style, or technique of your latest artistic production?
My latest artistic production focuses on the theme of strength and sensuality through pole dance photography. The style emphasizes contrast, using dramatic lighting to highlight the incredible physicality and grace of pole dancers. I aim to capture the duality of power and vulnerability in their movements, often freezing moments that showcase their dynamic lines and intense focus.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
I began my journey as a fine art photographer after being inspired by The Other Art Fair back in 2013!
That was my very first experience attending an art fair, during the second edition of The Other Art Fair. It was a truly eye-opening moment for me. At the time, I was dedicating all my energy to being a professional dancer and choreographer, leaving little room for anything else.
Seeing such a diverse range of unique styles and hearing the incredible stories behind the artwork was AMAZING! It inspired me to think, “What if I could do this too?”
So, I decided to take a leap of faith. I applied for the next fair, got accepted, and to my delight, sold 28 pieces at my very first show! Since then, I’ve participated in 21 fairs with TOAF across various cities, each experience as thrilling as the last.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why?
It will be Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. Just unique, inspiring, powerful and touching!
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
Coffee time with Bruce Lee
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
| ArtMajeur Magazine
