Biography

Franca Marini is an Italian international artist. She pursued her artistic academic studies in Italy followed by studies in painting in the United States. She lived and worked as a professional artist in New York Cty for over 10 year. After many years experience in the pictorial arts, she is currently engaged in the creation of site-specific installations and video art. The subjects of her videos are connected to urban settings of contemporary metropolis and to human rights issues. She has exhibited in personal and group shows, carried out public art commissions, participated in film festivals and in cultural events in Europe, the United States, Central America and Palestine. Her work is to be found in public and private collections in Italy and abroad.

born
Siena, Italy

Education
1990-89 San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, independent study in painting
1988 Fort Mason Art Center San Francisco, painting class
1987 Centro d’Arte Il Verrocchio Casole d’Elsa (Siena), drawing and sculpture class
The Citylit London, painting class
1986-82 Accademia di Belle Arti Florence, degree in painting, graduated summa cum laude
1982-78 Istituto Statale d'Arte Duccio di Buoninsegna Siena, degree in painting, graduated with highest honours


SELECTED VIDEO SCREENINGS / VIDEO-SOUND INSTALLATIONS
Abitare la diversità / living diversity 
(2021)
- May 28 2023 INTERCULTURAL DAY Tutti i colori del Mondo / All the Colours of the World
Associazione Poggio d’Oro APS, Montalcino (Siena), Italy  
December 10 2021 Migration and Human Rights
 
event on the occasion of Human Rights Day, Siena Civil Court
-
April 24 2021  Confronto Italiano - XII edizione. I diritti umani tra mondo globale e identità locali /
Human rights between a global world and local identities on-line congress
www.confrontoitaliano.it
Migrations  (2020)
- September 25-26 2020 Officina Creativa dell’Abitare OCRA, Montalcino (Siena)
event part of the XVI EUROPEAN ACTION WEEK AGAINST RACISM
organized by SOS Razzismo Italia in collaboration with Scuola Permanente dell'Abitare
- June 20-22 2020 mobile film festival in response to pandemic The Lebanese National Theater Tyre, Tyre, Lebanon 
Tiro Association For the Arts at The Lebanese National Theater Tyre
a new life / on a journey  (2018)
- December 10 2019, Università Popolare di Roma
on the occasion of Human Rights Day and the 30th anniversary of SOS Razzismo Italia
Un Mar Rojo  (2014-18)
- July 19 2022 Cuba and the Gaza Strip in the interpretation of an artist“Il Giardino Segreto” Siena Civil Court
- June 28 2019 XXI century video art exhibition Macro Asilo, Museo Macro | Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma
- May 2-8 Romerías de Mayo Art Festival, Holguin, Cuba
Origins  (2012-16)
- October 8 2022 Eighteenth Edition of Giornata del Contemporaneo Museo Civico per la Preistoria del Monte Cetona, Cetona, Italy
video-sound installation, presentation by Margherita Mercanti
- September 21 2019, outdoor video-sound installation, Inner Room - Open Zona Toselli, Siena
- August 4 2022, “Il Giardino Segreto” Siena Civil Court
a dream in Gaza 
(2015)
- March 18 2024 GAZART artists and intellectuals for peace, freedom and justice in Palestine
Teatro Villa Lazzaroni, Rome
- July 19 2022 Cuba and the Gaza Strip in the interpretation of an artist, “Il Giardino Segreto” Siena Civil Court
- September 26 2017  Eleventh Human Rights Film Festival organized by the Colectivo de Cine Forum de Valparaiso
Valparaíso, Chile
- February 15 2017, Bard College, Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, presentation by the artist
- December 2016 - February 16 2017, Stanze della Memoria
Istituto Storico della Resistenza senese e dell'Età Contemporanea (ISRSEC), Siena
- April 2016, Arsenale Cinema, Pisa, debate with the author
- March 12 2016, Al Ard Doc Film Festival, Cineteca Sarda, Cagliari
- February 6 2016 7° Premio Stefano Chiarini La Tenda, Modena
- December 4 2015 Uomini come voi Aula Magna del Rettorato, Siena, organized by Link Siena, University of Siena
- November 26 2015 War and peace: understanding and addressing the conflict
London Kingston University, School of Psychology Criminology and Sociology, organized by the Department of Psychology
- November 5 2015, P21 gallery, London, debate with director Franca Marini, moderated by journalist Amelia Smith
- October 30 2015 Confini / Borders Visionaria International Film Festival, special event
Teatro Alfieri, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena
- September 12 2015 Casa Internazionale delle Donne, Rome
A dream in Gaza one year after the massacre known as Operation Protective Edge organized by Cultura è Libertà
debate with th the artist and Meri Calvelli - Italian Center for Cultural Exchange of Gaza VIK
- August 22 2015 Santa Maria della Scala Museum, Siena
A dream in Gaza one year after Operation Protective Edge, Israel's most recent military offensive  in the Gaza Strip
debate with th the artist, Francesco Andreini - Assopace Palestina -
and Meri Calvelli - Italian Center for Cultural Exchange of Gaza VIK

- August 1 2105, Khalim Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Palestine, debate with the artist
- May 14, 2015 Al Aqsa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Cosa es lo humano?  (2010)
- July 14 2012  Le notti dell’Archeologia – Archeofest Cetona
Museo Civico per la Preistoria del Monte Cetona, curated by Maria Teresa Cuda
presentation by Antonio Locafaro and Franca Marini, new version with music by Prada & Soragna
- November 21 2010 SonoMACLab Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
curated by Andrés Lugo, live performance by Trili music ensemble
Urban Lines  (2008)
- January 26 2017 the metropolis and the artist - The collective and social dimension of the city told by an artist
Le Stanze della Memoria, Siena, debate with artist Franca Marini, prof. Bernardina Sani and arch. Marina Gennari
Centro Mara Meoni, Istituto Storico della Resistenza senese e dell'Età Contemporanea (ISRSEC)
- September 10/16 2009 Universal Language Queens College Art Center, New York, presentation by Franca Marini
- February 20 2009 FuturismoistarteaSiena – Mattinatafuturista Istituto Statale d’Arte Duccio di Buoninsegna, Siena
curated by Fabio Mazzieri, presentation by Esther Biancotti
- January 21 2009  franca marini urban lines Palazzo San Galgano, Siena
SanGalganoSquare, series of contemporary art exhibitions curated by Massimo Bignardi
Università degli Studi di Siena, chair of Contemporary Art History, presentation by Esther Biancotti
- October 22 2008 ENS Siena Space and Communication conference, Siena School of Liberal Arts Annual Conference
video-sound installation with sculptural works by artist Joe Smith


SELECTED ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS / ART INSTALLATIONS

2023 Promised Lands railway underpass of Sinalunga (Siena)
permanent site-specific artwork
SFS - THE INDEPENDENT PROJECT - MAXXI  curated by Gianni Lillo
  Promised Lands railway underpass of Sinalunga (Siena)
one-day site specific art installation dedicated to the 75° anniversary of Human Rights Day, Dec 10 2023
SFS - THE INDEPENDENT PROJECT - MAXXI  curated by Gianni Lillo
2022 Blood Red University of Siena, department of Political and International Science
art installation created for the event BETWEEN GENDER VIOLENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS December 5 2022
  The Justice Siena Civil Court, permanent site-specific artwork
2021 Walls The Pilgrim’s Garden, Monteriggioni (Siena), Italy
art installation realized in collaboration with Kirikuci nonprofit migrants tailor shop
on site: June 2021-July 2023
2019 Chiaroscuro – Leonardo, artista contemporaneo La Tinaia, Sovicille ( Siena)
on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci
art installation created in interaction with the performance by Motus dance company
2019 Transnational Migration and Immigration – E-Words project
art installation, University of Siena, department of Political and International Science
2018 Transnational Migration and Immigration - non ho paura dell’uomo nero (I do not fear the black man)
multimedia art installation, Scuola Permanente dell’Abitare, Ocra Montalcino (Siena)
  Transnational migration and immigration Human Rights Institute at Kean University, Union, N.J. USA
multimedia art installation, Neil Tetkowski, curator
2017 Visions from the metropolis – an artistic research between urban life and early renaissance imagery
Karl and Helen Burger Gallery, kean University, Union, N.J., Neil Tetkowski, curator
2009 Universal Language Queens College Art Center, New York, "The Poetics of Transculture"
art installation, Tara Mathison, curator, catalogue
  francamariniurbanlines Palazzo San Galgano, Siena, SanGalganoSquare contemporary art exhibition series
art installation, Massimo Bignardi, curator
Università degli Studi di Siena, Chair of Contemporary Art History
sponsored by Siena Local Council Department of Culture, exhibition coordination by Esther Biancotti
2008 Urban Lines StudioArteFuoriCentro, Rome
video-sound installation, Ivana D’Agostino, curator, catalogue
2007 From painting to images 234 gallery, Buffalo State College, State University of New York, Buffalo
art installation
2005 Reconstrucción en rojo Nuevas Obras Galería Nacional, San José, Costa Rica, Rolando Castellón, curator, catalogue
2001 Sogno di un nuovo mondo - opere recenti, Museo dell’Antica Grancia, Centro Civico per l’Arte Contemporanea La Grancia
Serre di Rapolano (Siena), catalogue
1999 Galleria Tornabuoni Florence
1996 The Interior Landscapes Elizabeth Harris Gallery, New York, catalogue
1995 Kafka Gallery, New York
1989 Diciannove giovani artisti Museo Civico, Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena), Enrico Crispolti, curator, catalogue
  Lick-Wilmerding Gallery, San Francisco
1988 Galleria Bastione di Sapia, Colle Val d'Elsa ( Siena), Giovanni Pala, curator


TWO AND THREE PERSON EXHIBITIONS

1988 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco
1995 479 Gallery (two person show), New York
1994 Elizabeth Harris Gallery, New York
1992 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco
  Seraphine Gallery, Englewood, NJ


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS / ART INSTALLATIONS
2024 Liberazioni Le Stanze della Memoria
Istituto Storico della Resistenza Senese e dell'Età Contemporanea, Siena
multimedia art installation, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
  V Biennale Oggetto LIbro
Biblioteca e Fototeca Giuliano Briganti, Santa Maria della Scala Museum, Siena
Susanna Vallebona, curator
2023 V Biennale Oggetto Libro ADI DESIGN MUSEUM Milan
Susanna Vallebona, curator    
2022-21      Bestie Color di  Carta in tribute to Federigo Tozzi
Biblioteca e Fototeca Giuliano Briganti, Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala, Siena
Fabio Mazzieri and Beatrice Pulcinelli, curators
2019 KOSÌ il bene comune 2 Korea-Siena Complesso San Marco, Siena, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
2018 Fortezza Aperta. New York – Siena. Artisti a confronto Fortezza Medicea- Bastione Madonna, Siena
art installation, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
  Librartis a Siena Mostra Itinerante Internazionale del Libro d’Artista 
Biblioteca e Fototeca Giuliano Briganti, Santa Maria della Scala Museum, Siena
Fabio Mazzieri, curator
2016-17     libertà delle memorie Le Stanze della Memoria
Istituto Storico della Resistenza senese e dell'Età Contemporanea (ISRSEC), Siena
multimedia art installation, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
2016 Librartis Artist Books You Can Touch Czurles-Nelson Gallery at SUNY BUffalo State, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
  Librartis Artist Books You Can Touch Northern Kentucky University Art Galleries, Highland Heights, KY
Fabio Mazzieri, curator
2015 Librartis Artist Books You Can Touch Burger Gallery, kean University, Union, NJ, Fabio Mazzieri, curator
2014 Brujas pero tambien brujos Aglutinador - Brücke, Havana, Sandra Ceballos, curator
  Gestos Mary Chacon Contemporáneo, San José, Costa Rica, Collección Rolando Castellón
2013 3rd International ArtBook Fair Studio E-5 Cubberley Studios, Palo Alto, CA, Rolando Castellón, curator
  Il fine dell’arte? Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Chiusi, Antonio Locafaro, curator
2012 Giornate Europee Del Patrimonio Museo dell’Antica Grancia, Serre di Rapolano (Siena)
Museo Civico Archeologico e d’Arte Sacra, Asciano (Siena)
Fondazioni Musei Senesi, Siena Art Institute
2012-11     De Colección Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (MADC) San José, Costa Rica, María José Chavarría, curator
2011 TEXT-o-&-figure Fabula Urbis, Lisbon / Centro Alfredo Pinheiro, Cascais (Lisbon), Rolando Castellón, curator
2010 TEXT-o-&-figure Galería Nacional, San José, Costa Rica / Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, Rolando Castellón, curator
2009 Terracotta in public and private collections Museo della Terracotta, Petroio (Siena)
2008 Segni/Disegni StudioArteFuoriCentro, Rome
2004 Ad occhi aperti Studio Hyunnart, Rome
2003 Charles Chamot Gallery, New Jersey, NJ
  Grabar – Grabando, Galería Nacional, San José, Costa Rica, Rolando Castellón, curator
2000 Galleria Didee Arte Comtemporanea, Siena
1999 Galleria Didee Arte Comtemporanea, Siena
1998 Stephen Gang Gallery, New York
1995 All the world in a painting Trans Hudson Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
1994 Blondies Contemporary Art, New York
1993 Painting Center, New York
  Seraphine Gallery, Englewood, NJ
1992 The Columbus Boat Show Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, New York, Paul Bridgewater and Laura Kruger, curators
  Rachael Freedman Contemporary Fine Arts, New York
1991 Yerba Buena Gardens Cultural Center, San Francisco, Rolando Castellón, curator, brochure
1990 The Soul Minus Zero Gallery, Los Angeles
  Freedom: a personal statement Grounds For The Arts Gallery, San Geronimo, CA
1989 Dream Reality Doma Gallery, New York
1985 Una nuovissima generazione dell’arte italiana Fortezza Medicea Siena, Enrico Crispolti, curator, brochure
  Piero della Francesca, il lavoro interpretato Sala Comunale d’Arte Moderna, Sansepolcro (Arezzo)
Teatro Comunale, Monterchi, (Arezzo), Logge del Vasari  (Arezzo), Mariano Apa, curator, catalogue
1984 L’arte del vedere Palazzo Corsini, Albano Laziale (Rome), Mariano Apa, curator, catalogue
  La visitazione rivisitata Biblioteca Comunale “Aldo Palazzeschi", Carmignano (Florence)
Mariano Apa, curator, catalogue


CRITICISM/PRESS

2015 Grieco, Sonia. GAZA. Fahid sogna la libertà video-intervista in Nena News, September 14
http://nena-news.it/gaza-fahid-sogna-la-liberta/
2009 Mathison, Tara. The Trifecta of Franca Marini in “Franca Marini Universal Language" catalogue exhibition, New York
Queens College Art Center, Carlo Cambi Editore, Siena, 2009, p. 8
  Morgan, C.Robert. The Transformation of Desire: A New Installation by Franca Marini in “Franca Marini Universal Language" catalogue exhibition, New York, Queens College Art Center, Carlo Cambi Editore, Siena,  2009, pp.38-41
  Biancotti, Esther. franca marini urban lines exhibition presentation text, Siena, Palazzo San Galgano
Università degli Studi di Siena
2008 Maestrini, Giulia. Franca Marini, da Siena a New York sulle tracce delle “Urban Lines” in “La Nazione”, Florence, June 22
Perrone, D. New York, Siena e Roma a confronto nell’opera di Franca Marini in "La Voce"
D’Agostino, Ivana. Urban Lines in “Urban Lines” catalogue exhibition, Rome, StudioArteFuoriCentro
2007 Maestrini, Giulia. Il sogno americano di Franca. Da Siena alla University of New York in “La Nazione”
Florence, November 11
2005 Maestrini, Giulia. Torna a splendere il teatro della Grancia. Con un’opera d’arte in “La Nazione”, Florence, October 28
Coccoli, Donatella. Personale di Franca Marini in Costa Rica in “Corriere di Siena”, Siena, September 22
Herrera, Sofia. Qué tienen en común un coreano y una italiana? in “La Repubblica”, San José, Costa Rica, September 18
Molina, Dunia. Nuevas Obras de Franca Marini  in ” Reconstrucción en rojo Nuevas Obras” catalogue exhibition
San José, Costa Rica, Galería Nacional, pp. 8-9
  Bandini, Silvia / Biancotti, Esther. Palabras Aladas in ” Reconstrucción en rojo Nuevas Obras”, catalogue exhibition
San José, Costa Rica, Galería Nacional, pp. 30-39
2001 Iannello, Riccardo. Racconto pittorico di un mondo da sogno in “La Nazione”, Florence, August 21
Tonelli, Massimiliano. Franca Marini – Sogno di un nuovo mondo in Exibart  July 26
Savelli, Anna. Quel mondo nuovo sognato sulle tele in “Corriere di Siena”, Siena, July 21
Coccoli, Donatella. Sogno di un nuovo mondo - opere di Franca Marini in “De - sign”, Modena, July – September, pp. 40-41
  Fargnoli, Domenico. Sogno di un nuovo mondo  in “Sogno di un nuovo mondo - opere recenti” catalogue exhibition
Serre di Rapolano (Siena), Museo dell’Antica Grancia, pp.5-9
  Panzera, Annamaria. The sense of things. Some notes on Franca Marini’s paintings in “Sogno di un nuovo mondo – opere recenti” catalogue exhibition, Serre di Rapolano (Siena), Museo dell’Antica Grancia, pp. 33-37
  Piersimoni, Cristina. The voice of silence in “Sogno di un nuovo mondo - opere recenti” catalogue exhibition
Serre di Rapolano (Siena), Museo dell’Antica Grancia, pp. 43-46
1996 Morgan, Robert. The Interior Landscapes in catalogue exhibition, New York, Elizabeth Harris Gallery
1991 Castellón, Rolando. New Paintings by Franca Marini in brochure exhibition, San Francisco
Yerba Buena Gardens Cultural Center
1989 Piersimoni, Cristina. Le materie vive di Pala e Marini in “N.C. Nuovo Corriere”, Siena, August 23
Coletti, Antonella. L’Arte di due giovani pittori: un rapporto diverso con la natura in “Il Campo di Siena”, Siena, April 8
Magni, Grazia. “Diciannove giovani artisti” catalogue exhibition, Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena), Museo Civico, p. 36 ill.
1985 Apa, Mariano. Piero della Francesca. L’opera interpretata catalogue exhibition
Sansepolcro (Arezzo), Sala Comunale d’Arte Moderna, Monterchi, (Arezzo) Teatro Comunale, Arezzo, Logge del Vasari
p. 34 ill.
1984 Apa, Mariano. La Visitazione rivisitata catalogue exhibition, Carmignano (Florence)
Biblioteca Comunale “Aldo Palazzeschi”, p. 8
  Apa, Mariano. L’arte del vedere catalogue exhibition, Albano Laziale (Rome), Palazzo Corsini, p. 11


LECTURES
2023 UPTER Rome, January 27 Inernational Holocaust Remembrance Day
IPEAH informal Partecipatory Education on Antisemitism and Holocaust KNOWLEDGE, MEMORY and HUMAN RIGHTS
lecturer on "Art, Memory and Human Rights"
2019 Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA), Spannocchia (Siena), guest lecturer on her work        
2018 Brandeis University Waltham, MA, guest lecturer on her work        
2017 Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA), Spannocchia (Siena), guest lecturer on her work        
2015 Al Aqsa University / The Italian Center for Cultural Exchange Gaza Strip, Palestine, lecturer on her work        
2007 Buffalo State College State University of New York, visiting artist lecturer on her work
2005 Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica San José, Costa Rica, guest lecturer on her work
2003 Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera Milan, guest lecturer on her work
2000 American University, Corciano (Perugia), guest lecturer on her work
1993 The City College (CUNY), New York,  guest lecturer on “The influences of 14th and 15th century Sienese painting
on the art of a contemporary Italian painter”


SOCIO-CULTURAL ART PROJECTS
2014-15 Italy-GazaStrip Festival social cultural exchange project  Al-Aqsa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine
               organized by the Italian Center for Cultural Exchange VIK of Gaza
2014-18 Arci Carretera Central e ARCS Culture Solidali project, La Habana:
               Santa Fè, rafforzamento dei servizi socio culturali per lo sviluppo comunitario


VISITING ARTIST PROJECTS /
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROJECTS
2007 Buffalo State College State University of New York, visiting artist project
1998 Metropolitan Montessori School, New York Artist of the Month - for the month of May, artist in residence project


GRANTS AND AWARDS
1998 New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), fellowship recipient for painting


PUBLIC ARTWORKS
2023 Promised Lands railway underpass of Sinalunga (Siena)
SFS - THE INDEPENDENT PROJECT - MAXXI  curated by Gianni Lillo
2022 The Justice Siena Civil Court
2016 Liberazione Stanze della Memoria, Istituto Storico della Resistenza Senese e dell' Età Contemporanea, Siena
2009-10    Pinocchio and the doctors Pediatrics Department  of Siena University Hospital “Le Scotte”, Siena
2006-09    Birth with color P.zza G. Amendola, Siena
2005  Theatrical representation Grancia di Montisi Theatre, Montisi (Siena)


MUSEUM AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Siena Experience Italian Hub, Siena
Biblioteca e Fototeca Giuliano Briganti
Santa Maria della Scala Museum, Siena
Kean University Union, N.J.
Le Stanze della Memoria, Istituto Storico della Resistenza Senese e dell'Età Contemporanea (ISRSEC), Siena
Museo della Terracotta Petroio (Siena)
Istituto Statale d’Arte Duccio di Buoninsegna di Siena
Buffalo State College State University of New York, Buffalo
Scuola di Specializzazione in Storia dell’Arte Università degli Studi di Siena
Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (MADC) San José, Costa Rica
Museo di Arte Contemporanea Italiana in America San Josè, Costa Rica
Galería Nacional San José, Costa Rica
Centro Civico per l’Arte Contemporanea La Grancia Serre di Rapolano (Siena)
The Museum of Art and Origins New York
The Appleton Museum of Art Ocala’s Fine Art Museum, Florida
Provveditorato agli Studi di Siena (Istituto Statale d’Arte Duccio di Buoninsegna di Siena collection)


TEACHING
2017-2024  Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, Portland ME, visiting faculty
2016-2024 Brandeis in Siena Summer Program in partnership with Brandeis University, Boston MA
and the Siena Art Institute, painting instructor
2009-2024 Siena School for Liberal Arts / Siena Art Institute, painting instructor
2020-2021 Siena Experience Italian Hub, painting instructor
1999-2016 SUNY Siena Program of the Buffalo State College of New York, painting instructor
2006-07 Studio Art Centers International (SACI), Florence, painting instructor                  
2003-05 Istituto Statale d’Arte Duccio di Buoninsegna Siena, painting instructor
1991-92 The League School Brooklyn, New York
volunteer painting instructor for emotionally challenged elementary and high school students
1990 Youth Guidance Center, San Francisco CA, art project coordinator with juvenile delinquents