Elisabetta Zangrandi
Elisabetta Zangrandi
MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique is pleased to present the work of self-taught italian artist Elisabetta Zangrandi in Paris for the first time. A tireless painter, Zangrandi creates first and foremost for herself: she describes the act of painting, which she does every day, as a vital impulse. Over the years, Zangrandi’s work has prompted her to explore image making ranging from fantastic landscapes to reappropriating art historical portraiture.
The paintings presented at Pièce Unique today are from Zangrandi’s most recent series, dedicated to women painters. Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 – 1653), Marie-Denise Villers (1774 – 1821), Suzanne Valadon (1865 – 1938) and Romaine Brooks (1874 – 1970) are exhibited together in a “group show” that defies time and geography, genre and scale, under Zangradi’s deceptively naif brush.
Discussing this series, curator Alison M. Gingeras has praised Zangrandi’s reappropriation process, which “both play homage to those who paved the way for her and find her inhabiting each image as a sort of likeness of herself.”
Powered by the historical significance of the “palette portrait” which, “practiced by women, is an emblem of agency and power.” Elisabetta Zangrandi inserts herself humbly in the lineage of autonomous women artists.
The Artist
Elisabetta Zangrandi, an artist born in 1960 in Verona, Italy, creates enchanting portraits that transport viewers to magical realms.
Her upbringing in the picturesque Italian countryside, influenced by her creative grandfather and angelic grandmother, instilled a profound love for nature in her. This connection is evident in her art, which frequently portrays whimsical princesses and mythical beings. Initially experimenting with painting on various materials such as stones, bottles, and wood, she has since honed her focus on wooden panels, producing detailed and imaginative portraits. As Zangrandi’s work has evolved, she has ventured into creating on larger panels and canvases, further expanding her artistic expression. Although she operates independently from the mainstream art world, Zangrandi draws inspiration from the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and the beauty of French Impressionism.