Hi, I’m Carlo Spano, known artistically as Karlo.
I was born in Sardinia, but somewhere along the way I found myself happily rooted in Finland.

Photographically, I’m influenced by the cinematic night atmosphere of Nicolas Miller and by the painterly use of color by Saul Leiter. Leiter’s work, particularly Forever Saul, had a deeper impact on me — his ability to turn everyday moments into something quiet and intimate pushed me to create my first book, RAW, where photography and personal experience come together.

Other influences shaping my visual world include Edward Hopper, Caravaggio, and the psychology of Carl Jung — all centered around solitude, contrast, and the parts of ourselves we tend to avoid.

An artistic turning point came through Hopper’s Nighthawks and Room in New York.
Living in Finland, I started noticing the same distance and silence in everyday life — in public transport, in relationships, in what people leave unsaid. A pervasive sense of not quite belonging, of being slightly out of place — never fully part of what’s around. What started as a way to deal with loneliness became a visual language about identity, belonging, and search for meaning and purpose.
In many ways, the images are as much about me as they are about the people in them — a form of projection, a way to externalize an internal state otherwise difficult to express.

Psychology is the other pillar of my work.
Becoming a psychotherapist is a long-term goal I’m still working toward. Until then, I use photography and writing as tools for reflection, exploration and understanding. 

What I aim to do with my work is make people stop, reflect, and confront something real —
to create a sense of soothing discomfort, where the raw parts of ourselves can surface and be felt.

Everything I create is an invitation:
to look inward,
to face what’s uncomfortable,
to grow into something more whole.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Carlo