Stefano Ronchi

About

Stefano Ronchi, known professionally as Ronch, is an Italian surrealist artist born in Milan in 1985. He studied at Liceo Artistico Statale di Bergamo and Brera Academy of Fine Arts, developing a distinctive style that blends dream logic with meticulous observation. Based in East London, Ronch has gained significant acclaim for his intricate, narrative-driven work that explores the unconscious mind through what he describes as magical realism. Ronch's artistic practice is characterized by a miniaturist approach using a magnifying glass to define every detail of his densely populated compositions. His work oscillates between dark and light themes, drawing inspiration from both classical masters and contemporary influences ranging from punk and alternative music to surrealist painters. He was notably a finalist in the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2023 television series, which significantly elevated his profile in the contemporary art world. His creative process involves drawing from dream states, confronting nightmares, and blending them with current reality and past experiences. Ronch employs a 16th-century painting technique, beginning with charcoal drawings, proceeding to brown acrylic underpainting, and then adding color. He often uses pareidolia, allowing images to emerge from initial black shapes that he progressively explores, describing the process as exploring a dark cave with a torch.

Magical realism and punk-surrealism characterized by meticulous attention to detail in densely populated microcosms, blending dream logic with sharp-eyed observation and exploring the unconscious mind