Silombria Marco

Juventus 1995-96 – Stretching Before the Match. Drawing by Silombria, 1996.

Marco Silombria (Savona, 1936 - Albissola, 2014) was an Italian artist, advertiser, and ceramicist, recognized as one of the pioneers of Gay Art in Italy. After studying in Turin, he became a student of Emilio Scannavino and started his career in advertising graphics, collaborating with Armando Testa for major brands such as Fiat, Facis, Superga, and Defonseca. In the 1970s and 1980s, he created some of the most iconic advertising campaigns for the Gruppo Finanziario Tessile and Gallo rice, distinguishing himself with a style influenced by Pop Art and Neo-Dadaism. In the 1980s, he gradually moved away from advertising to fully dedicate himself to painting and ceramics, developing a distinctive artistic language centered on the representation of the male body. His works, often characterized by vibrant colors and stylized forms, explore themes of eroticism and queer identity, blending classical references with a contemporary aesthetic. Ceramics became another field of experimentation for Silombria, connecting his artistic production to the dynamic art scene of Albissola. Having previously worked for Fiat, the owner of Juventus Football Club and controlled by the Agnelli family, Silombria already had strong ties to the club’s environment. After Juventus’ historic UEFA Champions League victory in 1996, he created a series of drawings dedicated to the key players of that winning season. These works, combining the energy of sport with Pop Art aesthetics, reflect his fascination with the male physique and his ability to merge sports culture with fine art. A committed activist, he was one of the creative minds behind Fuori!, Italy’s first LGBTQ+ rights association, and one of the first Italian artists to openly incorporate homoerotic themes into his work. With a bold graphic style and strong visual impact, he helped redefine the representation of masculinity in contemporary Italian art. In his later years, he focused on paintings and ceramics, maintaining a deep connection with advertising aesthetics and visual design.