Marco Perego-Saldaña is an Italian contemporary artist, sculptor, filmmaker, and occasional actor known for his bold, emotionally charged artworks that explore themes of identity, memory, masculinity, and human vulnerability. Born in the small lakeside town of Salò, Italy, he transformed himself from a promising professional soccer player into an internationally recognized visual artist with pieces displayed in galleries and private collections across New York, Los Angeles, Milan, and Paris.
His life took a dramatic romantic turn in 2013 when he met actress Zoë Saldaña on a flight to New York City. Within three months, they were married in a secret London ceremony and he made the decision to adopt her last name, changing his name from Marco Perego to Marco Perego-Saldaña.
This biography covers everything about Marco Perego-Saldaña age, his artistic career, family background, and his remarkable partnership with one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses.
Who is Marco Perego-Saldaña?
Marco Perego-Saldaña is far more than just “Zoë Saldaña’s husband,” though that label often precedes his introduction in mainstream media. He is a serious contemporary artist whose work commands significant gallery representation and has attracted collectors including luxury fashion houses Dolce & Gabbana and notable industry figures.
His artistic practice centers on creating emotionally raw installations, sculptures, and paintings that confront viewers with distorted human forms, bold color palettes, and layered textures exploring vulnerability and connection. Rather than pursuing commercial success through celebrity associations, His most recent work, the documentary-style film The Absence of Eden (2024), which he directed and his wife starred in.
Marco Perego-Saldaña Age – How Old is He?
Marco Perego-Saldaña age is 46 years old as of January 2026. He was born on March 1, 1979, in Salò, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy—a picturesque town on Lake Garda known for its artistic heritage.
Marco Perego-Saldaña Biography / Wiki
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Marco Perego-Saldaña (formerly Marco Perego) |
| Date of Birth | March 1, 1979 |
| Age (2026) | 46 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Salò, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy |
| Current Residence | Montecito, California, USA |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Profession | Contemporary Artist, Sculptor, Painter, Filmmaker, Producer |
| Spouse | Zoë Saldaña (Actress; married June 2013) |
| Children | Three sons: Cy Aridio Perego-Saldaña (born Nov 27, 2014), Bowie Ezio Perego-Saldaña (born Nov 27, 2014), Zen Anton Hilario Perego-Saldaña (born Dec 12, 2016) |
| Notable Works | Large-scale sculptures, mixed-media paintings, documentaries (The Absence of Eden, Dovecote, Paper Tiger) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $5 Million USD |
| Gallery Representation | Ingrao Gallery (New York) and international venues |
Early Life and Background
Marco Perego was born in Salò, Italy, a lakeside community in the Lombardy region. He grew up in a humble, working-class family—his father was a waiter and his mother a homemaker. This modest background shaped his values around family, work ethic, and creative expression throughout his life.
At age 17, he began a career as a professional soccer player, a common aspiration for talented young athletes in Italy. For four years, he pursued football seriously, developing the discipline and physical commitment required for professional sports. However, at age 21, a career-ending injury abruptly terminated his athletic dreams.
Rather than allowing this setback to define his future, Marco made a bold pivot. He spent a year in Brazil, reflecting on his direction and exploring different possibilities. Following this period of introspection, he made the decision to relocate to New York City to pursue art—a field he had always been drawn to but never formally pursued professionally.
The move to New York was not glamorous. He lived in Spanish Harlem on 104th Street without much money, working multiple service jobs to pay rent. He worked as a busboy, waiter, and soccer coach, taking any employment available while developing his artistic skills and building toward his first exhibition.
Education
Marco Perego received his foundational art education in Italy, where he studied fine arts during his teenage years before pursuing professional soccer. Later, after relocating to New York, he continued his artistic training in London, though he has never publicly disclosed the names of specific institutions.
Marco Perego-Saldaña Career Journey
The Transition from Soccer to Art (1998–2005)
Following his soccer injury and time in Brazil, Marco arrived in New York with minimal resources but significant determination. The late 1990s and early 2000s found him working service industry jobs while attending art classes and developing his portfolio. This period was economically challenging but artistically generative—he used his time in Spanish Harlem to understand urban hardship, immigration experiences, and human vulnerability—themes that would dominate his later work.
Gallery Breakthrough (2005–2013)
His turning point came in 2005 with his first major gallery exhibition at Ingrao Gallery in New York. The response was extraordinary—approximately 700 to 800 people attended the opening, a remarkable turnout for an emerging artist. His paintings were priced between $20,000 and $30,000, while his sculptures sold for $15,000 each. Notably, he sold all but two pieces, indicating strong collector interest.
High-profile collectors purchased his work, including luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, the Moratti family, Fiat heir Lapo Elkann, and Hard Rock Café heir Harry Morton. This early success established him within contemporary art circles and gave him financial stability to continue expanding his practice.
Throughout the 2005–2013 period, he exhibited extensively across Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, building a reputation for emotionally intense work exploring masculinity, vulnerability, and human connection.
Life with Zoë and Artistic Evolution (2013–2024)
Meeting Zoë Saldaña in 2013 and subsequently marrying transformed Marco’s life trajectory, though not his artistic commitment. If anything, their partnership deepened his focus on creating socially conscious work. In 2016, he created a major installation using 714 pairs of shoes filled with concrete—each pair representing a child who had migrated from Syria to Italy. This piece marked a shift toward more overtly political and humanitarian themes.
Directorial Debut and Contemporary Practice (2024–Present)
In 2024, Marco made his directorial debut with The Absence of Eden, a feature film starring his wife as a young woman fleeing Mexico for a better life in the United States. The project merged his artistic vision with his commitment to humanitarian storytelling.
He has explained that the film emerged directly from his sculpture practice: “I do installation and sculpture for a living, and in 2016 I did this piece where 714 children go from Syria to Italy…I felt, at the time, maybe if I was using another tool, like cinema, I can be impactful [and maybe evoke] more conversation.”
His other directorial and production work includes Dovecote (2024) and Paper Tiger, demonstrating sustained creative output across visual art and film mediums.
Marco Perego-Saldaña and Zoë Saldaña
The story of how Marco and Zoë met has become legendary in celebrity culture—not because of its extravagance but because of its authenticity and emotional immediacy.
In April 2013, Zoë was boarding a flight to New York City when she spotted Marco. She later described the moment: “I just saw him from behind. It was 6:30 in the morning, and I was on a flight to New York. And I can’t even describe to you, it was a vibration. He turned in that moment, because he felt the vibration as well.”
The couple began dating almost immediately after that airplane meeting. It is worth noting that they were confirmed dating in May 2013 by media outlets, with their relationship moving at an extraordinary pace. Both had previously vowed never to marry—Zoë was recovering from an 11-year engagement to businessman Keith Britton that had ended in 2011, while Marco had similarly decided marriage was not for him.
Yet within three months, they changed their minds. Zoë later explained: “As soon as we decided we were going to get married, we didn’t wait. We did it three weeks later. That part was very, very quick.” In June 2013, they were married in a secret ceremony in London. The wedding remained private until September 2013, when they were photographed wearing matching wedding rings, prompting media confirmation of their union.
Marco Perego-Saldaña Family
Marco and Zoë have built a deliberately private family life, shielding their three sons from public attention despite Zoë’s significant Hollywood profile.
| Family Member | Details |
| Spouse | Zoë Saldaña (Actress; married June 2013) |
| Son 1 | Cy Aridio Perego-Saldaña (Twin; born November 27, 2014) |
| Son 2 | Bowie Ezio Perego-Saldaña (Twin; born November 27, 2014) |
| Son 3 | Zen Anton Hilario Perego-Saldaña (born December 12, 2016) |
| Father | Waiter (name not publicly disclosed) |
| Mother | Stay-at-home homemaker (name not publicly disclosed) |
| Current Residence | Montecito, California (in a $17.5 million mansion) |
Marco Perego-Saldaña Net Worth
Marco Perego-Saldaña net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million USD as of 2026. This wealth has accumulated through multiple revenue streams spanning his artistic career Like Sculpture and Painting Sales, Gallery Representation, Filmmaking and Production.
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