The artist SAGG Napoli considers Naples so essential to her artistic practice that she incorporated the southern Italian city into her name. (She was born Sofia Alice Ginevra Gianní.) Working in a wide variety of media—from performance and video to sculpture, installation, fashion design, and sound—Napoli collapses the line between art and life that embodies what she has called “South Aesthetics.” She even considers her training as a competitive archer to be part of her artistic project. (She picked up her bow again for a performance at Dior’s Spring/Summer 2025 presentation in September 2024.)
Napoli’s latest exhibition, on view from March 26 to May 16 at Champ Lacombe in London, is a bit of a departure. For the first time, her own body is nowhere to be found in the work. Instead, she is presenting a new sculpture alongside a film that juxtaposes footage of volcanic eruptions of Mount Vesuvius and the raucous celebrations of New Year’s Eve in Naples.
Ahead of the show, CULTURED caught up with the artist about life in her Naples studio, and why her most important work happens outside.
What’s the first thing you do when you enter your studio?
I give a massive squeeze to Sofia, my studio mate.
What’s in your studio fridge?
Snacks made of dates, peanut butter, and dark chocolate (I make them), caviar, and non-alcoholic beer (not mine).
What’s the weirdest tool you can’t live without?
My running shoes. The only thing weird about them is that I consider them a tool.
When do you do your best work?
When I run.
Who’s the first person you show something to?
Sofia. I normally look up as we sit opposite each other and say, “I had a genius idea!”
There are a lot of costs that come with being an artist. Where do you splurge and where do you save?
Splurge is studio rent, as we have a delicious space. I don’t spend much on materials as all the work does really happen in my head.
What was the last time you completely lost track of time while working?
A few months ago, we were working so much we forgot what day of the week it was.
Have you ever destroyed a work to make something new?
Never.
Is there a studio rule you live by?
We talk more than we sketch.
If your studio were an animal, what would it be?
A black cat.
What’s your studio uniform?
I wear a tracksuit most days.
If you had to choose, would you rather go to the studio drunk, high, or hungover?
I don’t drink and I don’t do drugs, so I’m never hungover. But if I were to choose, I would definitely say high.
If you could change one thing about the art world, what would it be?
Imagine every artist had a base salary—wouldn’t that be interesting?
If you could have a studio visit with one artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
That’s a good one. It actually wouldn’t be with an artist, but the Neapolitan architect Stefania Filo Speziale.
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