About

Sylvester Zagato (Geneva, 1997) is a Swiss artist who lives and works in Berlin.

In Switzerland, he studied horticulture, while he developed an interest in contemporary art practice. As a self-taught artist, he began to explore painting and sculpture. 

Working predominantly with painting, his practice includes incursions in graphics, fashion, and product design. His ongoing research focuses on abstract and conceptual leit-motives and shapes. The result is often genuinely aesthetic but sometimes Zagato’s pieces might reveal a more personal, emotional, and autobiographical element meaning beyond the surface.

Artist statement

A work of art is often expressed through its form.

In my practice, I analyse the concept of form in relation to abstraction and repetition. From painting to sculpture, I work with different materials such as fabric, silicone, or resin.

My experimentation is primarily aesthetic, and my aim is to spontaneously touch the

viewer: I want to reach their emotions, instead of obtaining their rational interpretation of my work.

My artistic practice is genuine, instinctive, beyond complex and intricate thinking.

Previously, my studies in horticulture led me to approach art with almost scientific perspective. Although I do not directly derive the subjects of my canvases from nature and botanical matter, I draw my methodology from them. I was always very interested in searching for the essence of nature and plants: their geometric structure, the inner balance of the elements, and the concept of fractals have inspired the visual composition of my paintings. In this sense, I like to consider my art organic.

Through my vibrant colour patterns, such as Lady Million (2021) or Going Bananas (2020), I want to propose a popular vision of art, accessible to everyone. I am inspired by 1970s and 1980s graphics and artists like Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, and Victor Vasarely. Furthermore, a strong influence of Maurits Escher's geometric engravings is visible in my work.

Later, as I continued my creative journey, I increasingly questioned the concepts of form and limitation intrinsic to the artistic process. This has driven me to develop another style of painting, more controversial but deeply personal, reminiscent of Vasily Kandinski and Abstract Expressionism. A good example of this work series is Be the 1st (2017). Here, my emotions, both positive and negative, are emphasised: life's frustrations and dissatisfactions merge with expressions of joy. While testing colours, I initially created those canvases as an extension of my palette, which I considered too small and therefore limiting for me to express and experiment.

Those, due to their seemingly chaotic identity, might be seen as disconnected from the neat style of my graphic motifs. But the truth is that the two aspects of my visual research reflect my personality, marked by contrasts. On the one hand appearance, and on the other what should remain concealed.

Berlin has played an important role in the development of my creative identity. There is a sort of magnetic attraction that brought me right here to start my artistic career. Berlin today represents a mother for contemporary artists, ready to challenge you but also to take care of you - at the same time. This city may not give you exactly what you expected, but it can offer you the chance to do it all.

Freedom, hope, and creative energy belong to this place.

Berlin was a starting point and currently represents an inexhaustible source of inspiration and growth, but it is not the only context in which I live and from which I draw inspiration.

As an artist I try not to describe the world around me exactly as it is and I rather wish to engage and welcome others into the vision of my reality, filtered by my identity, feelings, background, and expectations, establishing connections and interactions with them.