From April 5th to July 23rd, Palazzo Cipolla, the Third Pillar Foundation in Rome, hosted the exhibition “Hypothesis Metaverse,” for which DRAGO proudly created the bilingual catalogue of the same name. From Escher to Refik Anadol, from de Chirico and Depero to Pak, from Balla and Boccioni to Krista Kim, from Piranesi to Primavera De Filippi: the great artists of the past meet contemporary pioneers of digital art in the realm of imagination, amidst immersive swings, digital Zen philosophy, techno-nature, blockchain sculptures, virtual reality, generative literature, and artificial intelligence.

Drago publishes “CALIFORNIA LOCOS: Renaissance & Rebellion,” a book of over 400 pages that brings to Europe for the first time the philosophy of the cultural collective composed of five Los Angeles artists, Chaz Bojórquez, Dave Tourjé, John Van Hamersveld, Norton Wisdom, and Gary Wong. The book embodies West Coast culture: surf, skate, street art, tattoos, photography, design, and music come together to celebrate Los Angeles in all its vibrant diversity and rawness. Being a LOCO means being in love with life, creative, rebellious, and open to the ethnic and cultural diversity of the world. LOCOS is a movement that embodies innovation, multiculturalism, and rebellion. With a major launch in the United States and 400 billboards in both New York and Los Angeles, the exhibition was launched at the Eastern Projects Gallery of Los Angeles in June. Europe embraces the cultural blend that the west coast of the United States offers, represented and displayed by Californian Locos. “The City of God (Rome) unites with the City of Angels (L.A.).”

The DRAGO publishing house started 2021 with a bang! The first publication of the year was “B.A.D.: Beautiful and Determined,” a book focused self-acceptance, self-esteem, and the concept of beauty. This photographic book raises questions such as who decides what is beautiful and why should a woman be bound by predefined standards of beauty? It’s a manifestation of the empowerment of women and non-binary individuals.

To mark the launch of the Spring/Summer 2021 collection by REDValentino, DRAGO produced a monographic volume titled “Stazione Termini Lookbook 2009-2021,” featuring the photographic direction of the collection by Pierpaolo Piccioli, collated by Niccolò Berretta. For over a decade, Niccolò Berretta has been capturing people at Rome’s largest train station. In the Spring/Summer 2021 collection, he extended his photographic campaign to the neighbourhood of the station, Esquilino. This venture garnered significant media exposure, including coverage by the Financial Times, Vice, and Harper’s Bazaar, and it received huge international acclaim. The book nearly sold out in less than four months, featuring a sleeve created exclusively for the luxury brand. The book became a part of the campaign worldwide and was presented at LMDS, Le Monde, and SHC of Shanghai, as well as at events like the Pop Up Black Tag in the concept stores of Rome and Milan.

“Neapolis” is the latest venture of the acclaimed international photographer Boogie: a photographic book capturing the essence of Naples. Boogie, known for immortalising the raw, harsher side of reality, from the outskirts of New York to the suburbs of Kingston, continues his tradition of delving into the heart of dark realities of crime, violence, poverty and social hardship. In “Neapolis,” featuring over 80 black-and-white images and a foreword by rapper Luchè, Boogie provides a collector’s book that belongs on the shelves of genre enthusiasts. The book was presented in Rome, where the author signed copies for numerous fans, and three limited edition issues have already gained a cult following among collectors.

“Street Life” is the debut book by Brad Mirman, offering a unique and symbolic exploration of Los Angeles. Mirman, a director turned screenwriter, infuses each photo with a story, providing a glimpse into different cultures and ways of life. With over 100 black-and-white photos, Mirman reveals a West Coast that has never been seen before—powerful, authentic, and timeless images that evokes and speaks volumes about feelings. He describes his camera as his passport to different cultures and worlds, enabling him to leave his comfort zone and capture the extraordinary.

From October 8th to 10th, DRAGO served as the creative director and communications agency for the 21st edition of the International Tattoo Expo in Rome. This event, which initially introduced the concept of a “tattoo convention” in Italy and Europe back in 2000, has since become a global reference point in the world of tattooing. The Expo features contributions from various artists who specialise in tattoo art, as well as other disciplines like painting, photography, and drawing. Each year, DRAGO adds its artistic touch, collaborating with international artists, releasing an updated catalogue with every edition, and engaging the public through book signings and dedicated events.

In November 2021, DRAGO presented the most comprehensive monograph by Janette Beckman, titled “Rebels: From Punk to Dior,” in New York. Beckman, a British-born photographer based in New York, is renowned for her work in music photography and beyond. Her portfolio spans art, photojournalism, music, fashion, and pop culture, as showcased in “Rebels”, a testimony of her unique ability to extract beauty from unusual elements of society. Beckman’s career began during the punk rock era in London, where she worked with publications like The Face and Melody Maker, capturing iconic bands such as The Clash and Boy George. Upon moving to New York in 1983, she transitioned to the emerging hip-hop scene, photographing pioneers like Salt-N-Pepa, Run DMC, Grand Master Flash, Slick Rick and LL Cool J. Beyond music, Beckman has also delved into movements like Black Lives Matter and collaborated with prestigious brands like Levi’s, Dior, and Gucci. “Rebels” received widespread acclaim, earning recognition as a Books of the Year 2021 selection by the Rough Trade Centre of New York. The Museum Fotografiska in New York dedicated a significant space to the book and the author, extending the exhibition dates due to its immense success. The book was also presented at the Dior shop in New York, where a limited-edition print was released for the occasion. Media outlets such as The Guardian, Forbes, Fox5, and VMagazine also featured the book prominently.

During the second term of the academic year in 2021, Paulo von Vacano, editor and CEO of DRAGO, alongside Professor Paolo Cenciarelli, delivered lectures on the topic of “Luxury and High Fashion Brand Communication” for the Fashion Studies degree program at Sapienza University in Rome. They presented case studies from their work at the publishing house.

On December 8, 2021, DRAGO inaugurated the exhibition of Giuseppe Loy titled “A Certain Italy: Photographs from 1959-1981” at the National Gallery of Ancient Art at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. Curated by Chiara Agradi and Angelo Loy, this retrospective marked the first since the artist’s disappearance four decades ago. The exhibition was developed from Giuseppe Loy’s photographic archive, alongside the media partnership of Rai Scuola, involving the digitisation and cataloguing of 1565 black-and-white films, 338 colour films, and 1800 stamps and documents. The exhibition aimed to provide an overview of Loy’s lifelong dedication to photography. It featured a selection of 135 original black-and-white prints, archive documents, poems, epigrams, family photographs, and a video highlighting Loy’s friendship with artists such as Alberto Burri, Afro, and Lucio Fontana. DRAGO also produced a trilingual catalogue for the occasion, featuring texts by Edoardo Albinati (writer), Chiara Agradi (art historian), Luca Massimo Barbero (director of the Institute of Art History of the Giorgio Cini Foundation), Bruno Corà president of the Palazzo Albizzini Foundation “Burri Collection)”, Emilio Garroni (philosopher), Margherita Guccione (director of MAXXI’s Museum of Modern and Contemporary Architecture), Angelo Loy (president of the Giuseppe Loy Photographic Archive), Rosetta Loy (writer), and Alice Rohrwacher (film director).

During the Venice 58th Art Biennale in 2019, titled “May You Live in Interesting Times,” DRAGO played a pivotal role in bringing the Bahrain Pavilion to life with the exhibition “The Wait: Contemporary Artists from Bahrain.” This exhibition included a highly successful opening event commissioned by Her Royal Highness, the Wife of the King of Bahrain, Art Select, and Tamkeen. DRAGO was responsible for directing the communications and PR aspects of this memorable event. Curated by Kaneka Subberwal, Amal Khalaf, and Tasneem Al Shurougi, the exhibition drew inspiration from a Nasser Al Yousif print from 1999, featuring figures gazing out to sea, peering beyond the horizon with a sense of anticipation, just waiting.

During the same Biennale, DRAGO created the catalogue for Zahrah Alghamadi’s solo exhibition, “After Illusion,” at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion. This exhibition, curated by Eiman Elgibreen and commissioned by the Misk Art Institute, showcased the work of this talented artist.

DRAGO also launched the book “Crash Kid: A Hip Hop Legacy” during a grand exhibition opening event which featured a Hip Hop battle in old-school style. This photo-laden book documents the birth of Street Culture in Italy, starting from the very first Hip Hop concerts in the 80s and the creation of the worldwide famous “Zulu Party.”

In the same year, DRAGO published the first anthology of Futura 2000, often considered the father of graffiti, titled “Full Frame.” The book traces Futura’s artistic journey from New York’s underground scene to his place in the official art world. His style has become unreservedly a foundational element of graffiti art.

Somewhere between traditional graffiti, graphics, and abstractions, Felipe Pantone’s work stands out, blending designer elements with highly evolved geometrical shapes to create an ultra-modern aesthetic integrated into urban landscapes. DRAGO published “Dynamic Phenomena,” the first and only book dedicated to the optical art of the new generation. It was an incredible success and immediately sold out.

2019 also saw DRAGO launch a series of events and exhibitions at the Contemporary Cluster in Rome, a trendy cultural space in the Italian capital known for promoting progressive forms of art.

At the 20th edition of the International Tattoo Expo in Rome, DRAGO organised a large exhibition and cultural arena, hosting a series of sublime events and exhibitions for attendees.

To honour the fashion and art icon Irene Brin, DRAGO published “Irene Brin, Gaspero del Corso” at the Obelisco Gallery. The book, authored by Vittoria Caterina Caratozzolo, Ilaria Schiaffini, and Claudio Zambianchi, serves as the first monograph on the Roman Obelisco gallery. This publication features contributions from the prestigious Sapienza University in Rome and the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery in Rome. The Obelisco Gallery, operational from 1946 to 1981, played a pioneering role in promoting contemporary artistic research in Rome. The book was presented at the Museum Boncompagni Ludovisi in Rome during the Italian issue of Harper’s Bazaar (1962), featuring a collaboration between Frank Horvat and Irene Brin.

This year saw DRAGO curate and produce ‘Cross The Streets’ at the MACRO Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Roma (the Contemporary Art Museum in Rome), one of the largest exhibitions of street art ever organised privately for a public museum. The exhibition featured artists such as Shepard Fairey, Chaz Bojorquez, Mike Giant, Will Barras, Swoon, Cope 2, Roa, Nick Walker, Miss Van, Hyuro, Jeremy Fish, Sten & Lex, WK Interact, Invader, DAIM, and many more. There were numerous site-specific works of art on the museum’s walls: one section was dedicated to previously unseen photographs of Keith Haring‘s works in Rome in 1986, another section dedicated to Graffiti and Street Photography (including Ed Templeton and Estevan Oriol), and one on the stories of street art (chronicling the birth of the street art phenomenon in Italy). The Italian section showcased artists such as Lucamaleonte, Ozmo, Bros, JBRock, and Diamond. The section dedicated to pop surrealism featured Ray Caesar, Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Camille Rose Garcia, and even the toys of Ron English. DRAGO published a catalogue for the exhibition containing images of the show, which also featured a silk-screen print of Lucamaleonte‘s work that quickly sold out.

DRAGO curates and produces “Cross The Streets” at the MACRO Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Roma (the Contemporary Art Museum in Rome), one of the biggest exhibitions of Street Art ever organised privately for a public museum. The exhibition includes artists such as Shepard Fairey, Chaz Bojourquez, Mike Giant, Will Barras, Swoon, Cope 2, Roa, Nick Walker, Miss Van, Hyuro, Jeremy Fish, Sten & Lex, WK Interact, Invader, DAIM and many more. There were numerous site specific works of art on the museum’s walls: one section was dedicated to never-seen before photographs of Keith Haring’s works in Rome in 1986, another section was dedicated to Graffiti, Street Photography (Ed Templeton, Estevan Oriol among others) and one to Street Art Stories (chronicling the birth of the Street phenomenon in Italy). The Italian section showcased artists such as Lucamaleonte, Ozmo, Bros, JBRock and Daimond, and the one dedicated to Pop Surrealism showcased Ray Caesar, Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Camille Rose Garcia up to the toys of Ron English. DRAGO published a catalogue for the exhibition with images of the show, also featuring a silk-screen print of Lucamaleonte’s work that was part of the show, which immediately sold out.

DRAGO embarked on an exhaustive research journey into Pop Surrealism, resulting in a trilogy of exhibitions showcased at the Dorothy Circus Gallery in Rome and London. This gallery quickly established itself as one of the most prominent and successful spaces dedicated to Surrealist Pop Art, not only in Europe but also worldwide. The Trilogy of the Dorothy Circus Gallery is a box set comprising three volumes: “Once Upon a Time,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” and “The Doors of Perception.” These three books can also be purchased individually and delve deep into the works of the top 70 leading artists of the movement, including Tara McPherson, Ray Caesar, Aaron Jasinski, Miss Van, Nathalie Shau, Naoto Hattori, Colin Christian, Clementine de Chabaneix, and Kazuki Takamatsu.

DRAGO’s commitment to Pop Surrealism extended to honouring Kazuki Takamatsu, one of the forefathers of this 1970s Californian art movement, who continues to be revered globally. They published an exclusive monograph titled “Hello, Here I Am” which, for the first time ever, unveils the techniques employed by the acclaimed Japanese artist in creating his famous and unsettling dolls.

The publishing house released the incredibly successful “LA Portraits,” the second project featuring the renowned photographer Estevan Oriol. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant gang culture that permeates the City of Angels. Estevan Oriol employs his signature style to capture not only the gangs of Los Angeles, but also Hollywood celebrities the likes of Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, Adrien Brody, and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others.

Meanwhile, in Europe, DRAGO channelled all its artistic efforts into the creation of “Les Bains,” a catalogue for the extraordinary Street Art exhibition curated by the famous French gallerist Magda Danysz. The exhibition was set in Paris’ most renowned nightclub, also named Les Bains (before its transformation into a boutique hotel). This exhibition showcased the works of over 50 artists, including ASH, Sowat, YZ, Sten e Lex, Invader, Ludo, Seth, and many more.

Among the publications for The French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici is the renowned “Europunk: The Visual Culture of Punk in Europe, 1976-1980.” It’s the first anthology of its kind documenting punk subculture and was published in three editions. The exhibition, curated by Éric de Chassey and Fabrice Stroun, showcased the diverse range of alternative visual artistic creations emerging from the Punk culture in Europe during the mid-1970s. The exhibition traveled to the MAMCO Museum of Contemporary Art in Geneva, the BPS22 in Charleroi, Belgium, and the Cité de la Musique, part of the Parc de la Villette museum complex in Paris. For this occasion, DRAGO published a new edition of the book.

In May of the same year, DRAGO collaborated again with The French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici  and with the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, to produce “Poussin and Mosè,” a catalogue for an exhibition featuring over 40 artworks, including tapestries, drawings, engravings, and paintings by the renowned French painter Nicolas Poussin. These works were dedicated to the life of Moses and were on loan from prestigious French, Italian, and British museums.

“From Style Writing to Art – a Street Art Anthology” is an original anthology on Street Art often referred to as “The Street Art Bible.” It was published for the exhibitions in Paris and Shanghai, curated by the French gallerist Magda Danysz. This comprehensive book covers 40 years of graffiti history, from the pioneers of the 1960s to the developments of the 1980s and the emergence of new styles, techniques, and genres in the early 1990s. It also includes biographies of more than 50 artists, including Miss Van, JonOne, Shepard Fairey, Quik, Blade, Doze Green, Cope 2, Nick Walker, and Keith Haring.

In 2011, DRAGO also produced “Twinkles“, the very first book by Miss Van, the renowned French Street Artist, in collaboration with Magda Danysz. The book explores Miss Van’s artistic evolution, from her early Street Art work to her exploration of painting and symbolism, all while maintaining the erotic and ambiguous qualities that characterise her art.

In 2007, DRAGO curated and organised the exhibition “Rome-Antic Delusions” by Jeremy Fish, featuring artworks created by the artist specifically for the exhibition in Rome. The accompanying catalogue, titled “Rome-Antic Delusions,” quickly became a cult favourite among art enthusiasts.

During the same year, DRAGO published “Heroes,” the catalogue for the exhibition held at the Roman Gallery Stefania Miscetti, featuring the works of Adrian Tranquilli.

In 2005, DRAGO undertook the direction and production of the exhibition titled “Kennedy: The Family, Values, and History” at The Adrian Temple in Rome. The exhibition featured a Gala dinner held at Villa Aurelia – The American Academy in Rome on the opening night and included a panel discussion with opinion leaders, celebrating the American-Italian relationship across political, cultural, and economic spheres. This ground-breaking exhibition was one of the earliest interactive exhibitions of its kind, showcasing 700 previously unreleased pictures of the Kennedy family, along with historical documentaries by Gianni Minoli and personal items such as JFK’s famous Hermes briefcase. Then Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, described it as “the biggest exhibition in Italy that comprehensively depicts the lives of John, Robert, and other members of a family that made history in the United States and influenced that whole era.” The exhibition received a medal of honour from the Italian Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

DRAGO also published “Young Sleek and Full of Hell,” a visionary volume by Aaron Rose, recounting the story of his Alleged Gallery in New York, which played a pivotal role in the underground movement at the end of the last century. The book featured interviews and artwork by notable figures such as Terry Richardson, Chloè Sevigny, Mark Gonzales, Carlo McCormick, Harmony Korine, Oliver Zaham, Ryan McGinley, Ari Marcopoulos, Rita Ackermann, Barry McGee, Phil Frost, and Bruce Labruce.

Additionally, DRAGO organized a special event in honour of Madame Bettancourt for the L’Oréal Group (Paris) and The French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici. This event celebrated the strong French-Italian relationship across political, cultural, and economic domains.

DRAGO curated the exhibition “Angel of Decay” by the American artist Ed Templeton. This exhibition took place in the Roman building Acquario Romano and showcased Templeton’s fascination with youth culture, akin to the themes explored in Larry Clark’s films. It had previously been exhibited at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and then at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, with a preview held at the 55DSL store in Milan. “Angel of Decay” marked Templeton’s debut in Italy, where his interests as a skater, artist, and photographer converged, ushering in a new era of Urban Art. The catalogue for the exhibition, titled “The Golden Age of Neglect,” became a cult favourite among enthusiasts.

This year also saw DRAGO participating in “Now Underground,” an international exhibition curated by Cecilia Nesbit. DRAGO published the exhibition’s catalogue for this event, which featured forty artists invited to exhibit their works on a long aluminium wall along the rail lines of platform 21 inside Milan’s main train station. The exhibition explored the connection between contemporary art, street culture, fashion, politics, graphics, and design, offering viewers a journey through modern times.

“Propaganda 30% Acrilico. Writing & Skateboarding” is the title of a book published by DRAGO in conjunction with an exhibition at the Museo di Roma in Trastevere. The exhibition showcased a bespoke collection of espresso coffee cups designed by a selection of Italian street artists, including Joe, Nico, Pane, Scarful, and Stand.

These activities underscore DRAGO’s involvement in promoting and supporting diverse forms of artistic expression within the urban culture and contemporary art scenes during this period.

In its inaugural year, DRAGO published the catalogue for the solo exhibition of the American artist Brice Marden at the Institute of Graphics Calcographia Nazionale in Rome. This exhibition and catalogue likely marked the beginning of DRAGO’s involvement in promoting and showcasing contemporary art and artists, setting the stage for its future endeavours in the art world.