Meet Marco Lorenzetto

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marco Lorenzetto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marco , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Nurturing confidence and self-esteem has been a profound journey of self-discovery, where self-love and the courage to truly know myself have played essential roles. Confidence and self-love are deeply connected, each reinforcing the other as we commit to embracing who we are. This path, though rarely straightforward, reveals profound truths about our essence and purpose.

One of the most challenging aspects of this journey has been confronting my shadow—the difficult and uncomfortable parts of myself shaped by past experiences. Over time, I’ve come to see life’s challenges as unexpected forms of generosity. The darkest moments, setbacks, and struggles have taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned any other way. They’ve shown me that even pain holds the potential for growth, teaching me forgiveness, compassion, and the freedom that comes from letting go—not just of the past, but of the need to control everything. This shift has been deeply transformative.

As Gary Zukav writes in The Seat of the Soul, “When the personality comes to fully serve the energy of the soul, that is authentic empowerment.” This idea resonates deeply with my experience—true confidence doesn’t arise from the ego but from aligning with the soul. It’s about tuning into life’s whispers and noticing the subtle signals that guide us toward growth. Often, the most transformative insights emerge in the quiet moments, those that invite us to pause, reflect, and look inward.

This journey toward confidence is also deeply rooted in connection—not only with others but with the strength of those who came before us. Within each of us lies the wisdom and resilience of our ancestors, a boundless source of inspiration and grounding. Their legacy reminds us that our path, even when deeply personal, is never truly walked alone. We are shaped by their courage, their lessons, and their enduring presence within us. As Laura Lynne Jackson beautifully states in Signs, “We’re all just walking each other home,” underscoring the sacred and interconnected nature of our journeys.

I’ve also come to see self-love as one of the most creative and transformative acts we can choose. Love, unlike anything else, has no opposites or enemies—it holds the power to elevate and transform everything it touches.

Ultimately, true confidence arises from recognizing that everything we seek is already within us. When we approach life with curiosity and trust, we align with a higher purpose and uncover the gifts we’re here to share. As Zukav suggests, this is the soul’s work—a journey not about proving something, but about becoming exactly who we were always meant to be.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I thought I’d respond to this question—and share a bit of who I am—by telling you the story of my beginnings, a story that remains deeply imprinted on my heart.

One of the most significant moments of my life happened in 2007, just after I graduated in Sociology with a thesis on human rights in Rome. I returned to my hometown of Faenza, feeling an incredible force, an inner pull guiding me. It was more than just inspiration; it was an intense energy that led me to buy paints, brushes, paper, and canvases. I then shut myself in for weeks, painting day and night, as though something within me had been waiting for the chance to emerge.

During my university years in Rome, I had developed a deep bond with Piero Melograni, a great professor of contemporary history and a writer, who became a guiding figure in my life. He called himself my nonno romano, which captured the essence of our relationship. To him, I was something of an enigma, as he was never quite certain where my path would lead. A month after my graduation, I took the train back to Rome to have lunch with him and his family to celebrate this milestone. I brought with me a painting, carefully wrapped as a gift to thank him for his support and guidance during my studies.

When the moment came for him to open the gift, he carefully unwrapped it and looked at the painting—an artwork in shades of blue and white, with tones of cobalt and ultramarine. His eyes widened, and, in a surprised and admiring tone, he looked at me and said:

Piero: “But… it’s beautiful! This painting… did you make it?”

Me: “Yes, I painted it.”

With a decisive tone, Piero exclaimed, “Ah, now I know who you are and who you’ll become. You’ll be a painter. They’ll make stamps in your honor.”

Those simple, sincere words were a true blessing for me. From that day on, I never stopped painting, and art became not just my career but my life. My nonno romano had understood, even before I did, the depth of that beginning and the direction my life would take.

From that moment, I continued down this path, meeting extraordinary people along the way who have guided, advised, and supported me. I’ve built deep, lasting friendships—relationships that have shaped my career and continue to be profoundly important.

Seventeen years have passed since then, yet I still feel like I’m in a phase of discovery, as if I’ve only just begun. While my artistic journey has grown and evolved, I still feel a vibrant energy within, a creative tension urging me to express even more. I’ve had the privilege of living and creating art in many places, each leaving its unique mark on me. From Italy, I moved to Spain, then to New York, Berlin, Paris, and, for twelve years, Los Angeles, where my work found a more mature expression.

Today, nearly forty years old, I find myself in a new phase of life: partly based in Mexico City, a place that fascinates me deeply with its vibrant energy. I continue to evolve, experimenting with new artistic forms like bronze and ceramics, though painting always remains central to my practice. I am currently preparing for an exhibition here in Mexico City for Zona Maco in February, in collaboration with my dear friend and colleague Lea Mugnaini, with whom I’m working closely at the residency Maison Céleste. Together, Lea and I are creating a new show, working as a unified entity, and we are genuinely excited about this collaboration and the unique vision we are developing.

This story, beginning with my encounter with Piero Melograni, represents not only a cherished memory but also the very root of my creative energy and the spirit of my artistic life. It’s a journey that continues to evolve and surprise me every day.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I can identify three qualities and skills that have had the greatest impact on my journey.

The first is the ability to listen to oneself: recognizing what truly fascinates us, those innate passions that guide our curiosity. Following these inclinations without fear—especially when fear arises—is crucial. Often, fear signals exactly what we should be pursuing. For anyone starting their journey, my advice is simple: listen deeply, trust what excites you, and explore the areas that call to you, as they often hold the richest discoveries.

The second is surrounding oneself with people who uplift and support our growth. It’s essential to connect with individuals who believe in our potential and encourage our evolution with sincerity. As Brené Brown says, only those “in the arena” can offer genuine insight. This resonates with Roosevelt’s words: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.” Building a network of creative, like-minded people has been invaluable, offering a shared vision and unwavering support on my path.

The third is cultivating a deep curiosity for beauty, knowledge, and excellence in all its forms. This curiosity has been a guiding force, drawing me to art, literature, design, travel, and more. I’ve nourished it by seeking beauty in museums, landscapes, and cultures, feeding both my personal and creative growth. Travel, in particular, has shown me how identity is shaped by context and how stepping into new worlds expands not only our perspective but also our capacity for inspiration.

Yet beyond these qualities lies something even more fundamental: magic. Magic is, to me, an essential force—a thread that keeps my spirit young, curious, and open, much like that of a child. I believe everything in life is already written in some way; the choices we make, the paths we take, are not random but part of a larger story. Our role is to live and understand this narrative, to feel the moments when passion is real and a calling is authentic. When this happens, you sense it deeply, with no need for explanation. Magic reminds me that life’s greatest treasures are often invisible to the eye but profoundly felt by the soul.

And above all, they remind me to have fun and not take myself too seriously. It’s liberating.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

There isn’t just one book that has played a significant role in my development; rather, reading is a great pleasure for me, and I consider books to be precious companions on life’s adventure. This question is especially meaningful because it allows me to emphasize how books have provided support during difficult times, offering wisdom, fresh perspectives, and new insights that open unexpected horizons, much like traveling without ever leaving home or the studio.

One of the most beautiful works I’ve read is certainly The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav, a book that explores the concept of the soul and authenticity, offering a profound perspective on how to align one’s life with the truest energies of our spirit. I’m particularly drawn to books with a philosophical and spiritual foundation, especially those inspired by Eastern wisdom and the teachings of Indian yogis. Among the authors I particularly admire is Deepak Chopra, whose books SynchroDestiny and The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life have been especially impactful. These works invite us to explore the invisible world and to understand the power of synchronicity—the moments when life seems to communicate with us through signs and coincidences that give deeper meaning to our existence.

Another book I love is The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, a remarkable novel and film that blend magic and realism in a family story rich with spirituality. In this work, mysticism and the ancestral world intertwine with history, revealing the profound connection between the living and those who have already crossed to the other side.

In recent months, I’ve also discovered two books by Laura Lynne Jackson: Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe and The Light Between Us. These books deeply moved me with their ability to make us feel constantly protected, helping us understand how our ancestors, loved ones, and spiritual guardians continue to communicate their love and presence to us. Jackson offers a touching and special vision of life, reminding us that we are never alone and that, even in our most challenging moments, there is always an invisible network of support surrounding us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Marcolorenzetto.com
• Instagram: Marco_lorenzetto

Image Credits

Marco Lorenzetto