Renato Calaj

Biography

Renato Calaj (1992) lives and works between Milan and Rome. His artistic practice originates from the spray can and finds expression across three distinct mediums: walls, canvases, and site-specific installations. Conceptual and minimal in nature, his work deliberately strips away the typical techniques associated with graffiti. Key themes of his art include space, boundaries, limits, and time.
Calaj attended the Decio Celeri Art School in Lovere (BG) and graduated with top honors in 2013. In 2014, he began gaining international experience in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Tirana. From the very beginning of his career, he has been deeply interested in painting and has pursued significant study alongside both Italian and international artists, exploring various perspectives on contemporary art and materials. He combines street art and urban art within a redefined, constrained space, yet one that remains boundaryless.
Calaj’s work investigates the concept of time and its relationship with transformation and destruction. Using scaffolding as a medium, he creates large-scale installations that interact with the environment and engage viewers in meaningful ways. His works often depict the rough and irregular textures of walls and streets, which can be interpreted as metaphors for the fleeting nature of existence and the way time leaves its mark on everything it touches.
In this sense, Calaj’s work can be seen as a reflection on the transience of life and the ephemeral nature of human experience. Together, these elements form a body of work that invites profound reflection on philosophical themes such as time, transformation, and impermanence.