A Warrington-based graphic designer is returning to his first love of art after pouring his energy into his family and career.
Marco Frezza has teamed up with Warrington Museum and Art Gallery to host his first solo show as a practising visual artist.
His exhibition, Measuring Ghosts, will open this Friday, 12 September, and run until 9 November.
Marco has been drawn to art since he was a youngster – always doodling and making things – and he graduated with a degree in graphic design in his early 20s.
He said: “I had started to do ok as a graphic artist and illustrator, having my first solo show at Rogue Studios in Manchester in 2011, but then we had kids and my career took over.
“It was really when re-evaluating things during Covid and realising I’d built a stable enough career to take a few risks that I started to pursue my artistic practice as a painter. There’s still aspects of graphic design all over my work today.”
One of the things that inspired Marco was arts charity Culture Warrington’s approach to nurturing and supporting homegrown talent – and that led to the upcoming collaboration with Warrington Museum.
He added: “While I had some beginnings of success as a graphic artist, this is my first solo show as a practising visual artist so it feels incredibly special and the first big milestone in a whole new chapter.
“It feels like it’s the first time I’ve ever really given my artistic practice the attention it’s warranted but everyone at Culture Warrington has been so supportive and Warrington Museum’s producer, Roger, in particular has been great to work with. It’s really encouraging to see how they back local artists.”
Influenced by the likes of Gerhard Richter, Ellsworth Kelly and Mary Corse, Marco’s 10 paintings presented for Warrington Museum will explore the beauty of imperfection and the impossibility of completion. The show is guest curated by Pete Mercer, founder and editor of STAT Magazine.
“A painting for me is always in the middle of something,” Marco said. “It’s a record of gestures and decisions that never really resolve and that’s where its energy comes from. I like to feel like the work is on the edge of falling apart.”
Now Marco is looking forward to sharing the work and this milestone in his practice with his adopted home of Warrington.
He added: “I grew up in north Manchester and have lived around the north west all my life, but didn’t settle in Warrington until 2017.
“We originally moved here for my wife’s work but we love the town and it would take a lot to make us leave. Our kids have grown up here, our friends are here and our work. I owe Warrington a lot.”
Marco Frezza: Measuring Ghosts opens at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery on Friday and is free to view.
12 September to 9 November
Admission: Free
Location: Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JB
wmag.culturewarrington.org
