Stefano Cerio began his photographic career at the age of 18. Since 2001, his focus has gradually shifted toward research-based photography and video, leading to a series of distinct yet interconnected projects. His work explores the concept of representation and the boundaries between visual perception, the narrative of reality, and the viewer’s expectations.

A defining feature of Cerio’s artistic vision is his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to transform familiar spaces into surreal scenarios. He frequently employs the element of inexperience, encouraging viewers to perceive the world from an alternative perspective. His compositions are carefully structured, with precise lighting that enhances both the imaginative and contemplative aspects of his work.

Cerio’s practice also addresses into themes of memory and remembrance, prompting reflection on past experiences and future aspirations. His imagery is often imbued with a sense of suspension, where time appears to stretch, turning ordinary situations into moments of deep contemplation. He constructs scenes that, while not necessarily real, possess an uncanny lifelike quality.

His projects—including Synthetic Italian, Souvenir, Aqua Park, Night Ski, and Chinese Fun—represent key stages in his artistic journey. These works examine memory, “other” locations that embody current desires and future recollections, and the role of vacation and leisure as a means of escaping everyday life.

Cerio’s work has been exhibited at the MAXXI Museum as part of an installation project featuring works from the museum’s collection, curated by artist Alex Da Corte. In 2021, He created a work for the new MAXXI museum location in L’Aquila, followed in 2022 by the publication of the book Aquila by Hatje Cantz. In 2019, the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris showcased his Constructions instables series. In 2018, the Museo Pignatelli in Naples dedicated a major retrospective to him, while in 2017 Hatje Cantz published the book Night Games, which led to a solo exhibition at Camera in Turin. His 2015 series Chinese Fun, first exhibited in 2013 at Noire Contemporary Art in Turin, was published as a book by Hatje Cantz and shown at the VOLUME! Foundation in Rome. In 2014, he exhibited Cruise Ship at the Mois de la Photo in Paris. In 2012, he presented the Night Ski series at Studio Trisorio in Naples, and in 2011, WinterAquapark at the Forma Foundation in Milan, accompanied by a publication from Contrasto. That same year, he showed the video Summer Aquapark at MAXXI in Rome. In 2010, Cerio held two exhibitions at the Galerie Italienne in Paris and participated in the group show O’Vero at the Madre Museum in Naples. In 2005, the Città della Scienza in Naples dedicated a solo show to him titled Codice Multiplo.