"I still believe,
I still create,
I'm still listening.."
Al Salerno is an Italian artist and photographer based in Palermo.
Born in Turin in 1987, he first became known in the Italian independent music scene under the stage name Buzzy Lao, releasing three studio albums and performing live across Italy and Europe.
In 2020, he began his photographic journey working primarily with a 1970s Leica M across street photography and long-term documentary projects focusing his lens on cultural identity, everyday life, migration, and contemporary communities.
His first published project, From the River to the Peace (2023), documents the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Palermo. Created in collaboration with Our Voice / Voci nel Silenzio, the series premiered on Rockit.it in 2024 and was exhibited at the Ecomuseo del Mare in Palermo in May 2026 in collaboration with Our Voice and the Palestinian Community of Palermo.
In 2025, he began collaborating with Archètravel on 'A occhi aperti': an ongoing documentary project dedicated to authorial photography series from around the world. Its first chapter, 'Nothing but Gold', was produced in Egypt and premiered at Combo Torino in December 2025. The exhibition continued in various Italian cities like Rome, Bologna, and Milan with the editorial curation of Stefano Carini (Noor Images).
Between 2023 and 2025, Salerno developed 'Glimpse on a Dancefloor', an ongoing documentary project created during different editions of Nomad Festival in Palermo. The work premiered at Nomad Off in December 2025 as a site-specific photographic installation curated by Paolo Toro.
Alongside his personal projects, Salerno undertakes commissioned editorial and commercial work for festivals, cultural institutions, brands, and musicians. His clients and collaborators include Archètravel, Nomad Festival, Palermo Sounds, Romare, La Nina, LOCA, Lero Lero, and Max Petrone.
Exhibitions
- 'From the River to the Peace', Eco-Museo del Mare - Palermo (Italy), May 2026
- Kamera Photo Lab x Palermo Sounds - Collective Exhibition - Palermo (Italy), September 2026
Publications