Marina Gasparini was born in Gabicce Mare (Pesaro, Urbino) and lives in Bologna, Italy. After graduation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ravenna, she started her artistic activity in Bologna in the ’80s. Her work is mainly based on site-specific installations focused on the recasting of iconographies from different eras and cultures in dialogue with the architectural space. The employment of writing associated to the use of textile materials, has been a constant in her work since 2001. For the artist, the practice of art happens when icons and words move from the media to the physical space, in conversation with people and places sometimes through immersive installations. She has featured her works in private galleries and museums in solo shows and has exhibited in group shows and international exhibitions of fibre-art. She has participated in artist residency programs in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Rajasthan , Japan, the United States and Finland. In the academic field, as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, she has held workshops on the theme of cartography in art including : Atlante di classe (2008), Children’s Book Archive, Library Public, Merano. Mappe cucite ( (2009) Literature Festival, Mantova, 2009; Mapping Salamanca (2010), Universidad de Salamanca; Alfabetlante, PXL-MAD School of Arts, Hasselt, Belgium (2018); University of Lisbon (2015), and Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul (2013). During her residencies she held the workshops Archiscapes (2012), Oulun Taidemuseo, Oulu (Finland); String potrait of Galesburg, (2013) Civic Art Center, Galesburg, Illinois; Self portrait as Otafuku, (2016) Asahi AIR Residence Shinano Omachi (Japan). She is the winner of Art and Sustainability Prize of Internazionale Arte Laguna 16th edition (2022) promoted by NaturaSì and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
The word “line” derives from the “linen” thread…The image of the thread is everywhere we turn, from the Old Testament to the Iliad and the Odyssey, right up to the modern age of computers….As a matter of fact, all the activity of creative thought could be defined as the activity of threading and weaving: grabbing onto threads of thought and finding the thread-ends of others’ ideas, spinning one’s own autonomous threads, and then all to-gether weaving and knotting and intertwining a new and original network of reflections… The history of creative thought as a beginning like a thread, not to mention creative activity, starts with the myth of Ariadne, as mentioned above, and not by chance continues with the myth of Arachne as narrated in Ovid’s Metamorphosis, and with that of Ananke: “necessity”. Just consider the preponderant female presence in the history of creativity, linked to three characters with such similar names: Ananke, Arachne and Ariadne.
Francesca Rigotti Words, objects, threads: a philosophical reading of Marina Gasparini’s artwork, in Il Denaro è un bene comune, catalogue of the exhibition, Modena Civic Art Museum, 2014
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
NUKE MARS/ in dialog with Filosofo di Cipria by Vincenzo Cabiati. Galleria Mazzoli, Modena (IT).
SEWING THE EMPIRE, Linden Museum, Stuttgart (DE), curated by Ulrich Menter on the behalf of The Taking Care Project.
2022
ATLAS X, Maison Laviniaturra, Bologna (IT)
2021
TRANSITI (CROSSINGS) curated by Francesca Baboni and Stefano Taddei. 5 open air installation in the borough of Quattro Castella (Reggio Emilia) IT.
2019
THE DODDER ( site specific project with Serena Piccinini), BAGNI DI MARIO. BOLOGNA ART CITY 2019 curated by Leonardo Regano.
2018
CHORA PARK, FONDAZIONE COLLEGIO SAN CARLO; MODENA, ITALY, curated by Antonella Battilani.
2017
FROM JAPAN (performance and exhibition) Abc ART SPACE, BOLOGNA.
WALK AND WORDS, CORRAINI MAMbo ARTBOOKSHOP, MAMBO MUSEUM BOLOGNA.
2016
THE FOX AND THE JEWELS, RINOVATION PROJECT ART GALLERY, OMACHI, JAPAN curated by Sosei Sato.
2014
IL DENARO È UN BENE COMUNE (MONEY IS A COMMON GOOD) MODENA CIVIC ART MUSEUM curated by Cristina Stefani.
2013
RESIDENCY OPEN STUDIO. MIDWEST STUDIOS, BONDI BUILDING, BY ART CIVIC CENTER GALESBURG (ILLINOIS).
2012
OPEN STUDIO IN KULTTUURIKAUPPILA RESIDENCE, II, OULU (FINLAND).
2011/12
ELEGIA, GALLERIA MARIA CILENA, MILAN (I).
2011
SPAESAGGIO, GALLERIA D406, MODENA (ITALY).
2009
WALKING WORDS, GALLERIA CORRAINI, MANTUA (ITALY).
2008
PUNTI DI VISTA, S-BLU SPAZIOLBELLO ART ASSOCIATION, 2008 MILAN, (WITH LAURO GIOVANNETTI).
2005
LA MUTA, VANNA GALLERIA CASATI, BERGAMO (ITALY).
2004
QUADERNO ROSA GALLERIA 42, MODENA (ITALY) curator MAURA POZZATI.
2003
LIBROBIANCO, IL FIORILE, BOLOGNA, curated by VALERIO DEHÒ.
2002
DRAMMA ROMANZO, CURATED BY D’ORAZIO, EXPOART, VILLA SERENA, BOLOGNA.
2000
PROTAGONISTE, GALLERIA IL FIORILE, BOLOGNA, curator EDOARDO DI MAURO.
1998
DIS\UP, ZOO GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS, BOLOGNA, BY SILVIA GRANDI.
1996
JE TE SALUE MÈMOIRE, STUDIO CRISTOFORI GALLERY, BOLOGNA.
1994
WINDOWS, ITALIAN-FRENCH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, BOLOGNA, BY DANIELLE LONDEI.
1993,
IL GRIMALDELLO DELLO STILE, CURATED BY DARIO TRENTO, TEATRI DI VITA, BOLOGNA
1990
MARCHI REGISTRATI CURATED BY DARIO TRENTO, IL CASSERO, CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, BOLOGNA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2024
L’ORO BLU, curated by Leonardo Regano Museo dei Bronzi Dorati e della Città di Pergola
2023
UTOPICHE SEDUZIONI, curated by Matteo Galbiati and Nadia Stefanel, Fondazione Dino Zola Forlì (IT)
DRAWINGS FROM MOTEL, curated by Art Motel, Palazzo Ratta, Bologna (IT)
ARTE LAGUNA PRIZE Finalists exhibition, Arsenale Nord Venezia (IT)
DRAWINGS FROM MOTEL Civic Museum of Gerace (Reggio Calabria), IT.
2022
THE SOFT REVOLUTION, curated by Barbara Pavan. Museo del tessile e della tradizione industriale, Busto Arsizio (Milan), Italy
TEXTE, TEXTURE, TEXTILE, curated by Simone Shuiten. Odradek Residence Galerie, Bruxelles, Belgium..
ARTISLIBRIS Arco Madrid with Al-Tiba9 Barcelona, Spain,
Arco Lisboa, with Al-Tiba9.
FESTIVAL LE PRINTEMPS ITALIEN Prieuré de Cayac de Gradignan, Bordeaux (FR).
THE SOFT PARADE, curated by Marcello Tedesco, Bologna, Fondazione Rusconi
2021
MINIMA INFINITA Museo Magi’900 Pieve di Cento (I).
EPISTèME, Distinguere senza separare ( Marina Gasparini, Martina Roberts, Silvia Vendramel), a cura di Marcello Tedesco Museo Temporaneo Navile, Bologna (I)
Al-Tiba 9 Gallery representation on Artsy
ARTISTICHE curated by Sandro Malossini. Assemblea Legislativa della Regione Emilia Romagna.
INTERSECT 21 Virtual Art Fair with Al-Tiba9 Gallery : https://www.artsy.net/collection/intersect-21-fair
L’EMOZIONE FEMMINILE NELLE ARTI. POETICHE, TECNICHE E MATERIALI NELLE RICERCHE CONTEMPORANEE IN EMILIA ROMAGNA, curated by Sandro Malossini. Assemblea Legislativa della Regione Emilia Romagna.
2020
FUTURO DA REMOTO La Biennale del disegno di Rimini online, curated by F.Pozzi, A.M. Bernucci, M. Pulini
2019
FARE LIBRI VII I LIBRI SEDUCONO, Musei Civici di Reggio Emilia by E. Pellacani
STENDALE. L’ABBRACCIO DELLE MUSE, Corciano Festival, a cura di Gabriele Perretta. Corciano, PG (I)
B-ARCHIVE Opere donate all’Archivio della Biennale del disegno di Rimini. Rimini, Museo della Città L. Tonini, curators Franco Pozzi e Alessandra Bigi Iotti
ORDINESTRANEO curator Leonardo Regano, Bologna
DONNE CHE FANNO LIBRI A selection of artist’s book by women and a poetry reading curated by Elisa Pellacani and Daniela Rossi. Millenium Gallery, Bologna (I)
FARE LIBRI ILDE XII Festival del Llibre d’artista, Barcelona, Sant Jordi 2019
2018
TUTTE! MAGI MUSEUM, PIEVE DI CENTO, curated by Valeria Tassinari
NO PLACE4, EX_CERAMICA VACCARI, SANTO STEFANO DI MAGRA, ITALY.
Art Residence, October-November, Rajasthan (India).
2017
CONTAMINAZIONI DI ENERGIE MLB HOME GALLERY PORTO CERVO SARDINIA.
2016
15TH INTERNATIONAL TRIENNIAL OF TAPESTRY, ŁÓDŹ 2016, CENTRAL MUSEUM OF TEXTILES, IN ŁÓDŹ, POLAND.
BIENNALE DEL DISEGNO DI RIMINI 2016 CANTIERE DISEGNO. MUSEO DELLA CITTÀ DI RIMINI, CURATED BY MASSIMO PULINI.
PROFILI DEL MONDO. FAR, FABBRICA DELLE ARTI, RIMINI, CURATED BY MASSIMO PULINI, MARINELLA PADERNI, ALESSANDRA BIGI IOTTI, GIULIO ZAVATTA.
TRIENNALE DESIGN MUSEUM 9, W. WOMEN IN ITALIAN DESIGN. PALAZZO DELLA TRIENNALE, MILANO (I).
TEATRO DEI PRODIGI, MARINA GASPARINI, SILVIA URBINI, SERENA PICCININI. MUSEODI PALAZZO POGGI, BOLOGNA.
2015
BOCCONI AMARI CURATED BY FRANCESCA BABONI, STEFANO TADDEI, GIANFRANCO FERLISI MAM MUSEO DELL’ALTO MANTOVANO, GAZOLDO DEGGLI IPPOLITI, MANTUA
DISSEMINAZIONI CURATED BY GINO GIANNUIZZI ANTEO REDOVAN CASABIANCA ASSOCIATION, BOLOGNA;
HESTIA LA DIMORA, 5 ARTISTE E UNA DIVINIÀ. SPAZIO ABC GALLERY, BOLOGNA; curated by Maura Pozzati
2014
IL MUCCHIO SELVAGGIO, SET UP FAIR IN BOLOGNA;
IL MUCCHIO SELVAGGIO 2, D406 GALLERY IN MODENA;
DA UNA CREPA, LOCUS SOLUS ASSOCIATION, REPUBBLICA DI SAN MARINO by Luca Morgani e Gilberto Giovagnoli .
2013
NON DI SOLO PANE, SPAZIO OBERDAN, MILAN ;
IL SEGNO DELLA CROCE, MIES GALLERY, MODENA;
TECNOMEDIOEVO, CURATED BY M. PECCHIOLI. REGIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, TURIN, ITALY;
TAITEEN MAAT, STUDIO VANNA CASATI GALLERY, BERGAMO, ITALY;
ARTE FIERA, INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR IN BOLOGNA, WITH CORRAINI GALLERY .
2012
SIAMO TUTTI GRECI BENAKIS MUSEUM, ATHENS, GREECE;
CONTEXTILE-TRIENAL DE ARTE TÊXTIL CONTEMPORÂNEA, CASA DA MEMÓRIA, GUIMARÃES, PORTUGAL;
LE VISIONI BARBARICHE, EX MACELLO, RUSSI (RA) CURATED BY BRUNO BANDINI BEATRICE BUSCAROLI.
2011
ART FAIR OF BOLOGNA ;
CASA NOVELLA GUERRA, ART ASSOCIATION, IMOLA (I).
2010
ART FAIR OF BOLOGNA, WITH GALLERIA CORRAINI;
DI FILO IN FILO, A CURATED BY MATTEO GALBIATI; STUDIO TUFANO 25, MILAN;
C’È UNA CERTA INCLINAZIONE DELLA LUCE CURATED BY ELISA BIAGINI, CASA GUIDI, FLORENCE;
PIATTI, PIATTINI, OGGETTI COMUNI FUORI DAL COMUNE, CORRAINI GALLERY, MANTUA;
PLEASE ME FASHION, BY ISABELLA FALBO, PALAZZO DUCALE, SABBIONETA, (MN).
GLOBAL ART PERSPECTIVES: ART 2010 ANNUAL PREVIEW EXHIBITION, BROADWAY GALLERY, NYC, CURATED BY NY ARTS MAGAZINE.
2009
ART FAIR OF BOLOGNA, WITH CORRAINI GALLERY ; WORKS ON PAPER, THE NY ARTS VENICE PAVILION. VENICE
2008
ART FAIR OF BOLOGNA, WITH GALLERIA CORRAINI;
MINIARTEXTIL, FILARE IL TEMPO, SALON DE L’HOTEL DE LA VILLE, MONTROUGE (PARIS );
PANORAMA, CORRAINI GALLERY, MANTUA;
MINIARTEXTIL, FILARE IL TEMPO, GOCEANO CIVIC CENTER OF ARTS, NULE;
FIL ROUGE, THE SEWING AND THE EMBROIDERY IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART, CULTURAL ASSOCIATION START, FERRARA, AND FORTRESS MUSEUM OF CENTO (I).
2007
MIART ART FAIR IN MILAN, WITH GALLERIA VANNA CASATI;
PRIZE OF POETRY ANTONIO DELFINI ILLUSTRATIONS IN SERIE DEL RITORNO POEM BY STEFANO MASSARI, EDITED BY MAZZOLI GALLERY ,CURATED BY EMILIO MAZZOLI, NANNI BALESTRINI, ACHILLE BONITO OLIVA.
FILARE IL TEMPO, CURATED BY LUCIANO CARAMEL, S. FRANCESCO CHURCH, COMO.(I)
2006
MACHO FREE ZONE – SAFE AND THE CITY, ART FESTIVAL, VAG 61, BOLOGNA (ITALY);
BAU BAU, CURATED BY MARCO MANGO, GALLERY42, MODENA
2005
MIART ART FAIR IN MILAN, WITH GALLERIA VANNA CASATI.
2004
CELEBRATION, 291 GALLERY, LONDON, BY LOUIS BENASSI;
BENVENUTO IN MIA CASA, BY VALENTINA COSTA, VANNA CASATI GALLERY, BERGAMO (I);
MIART, ART FAIR, WITH VANNA CASATI GALLERY, MILAN (I);
CANDIDATO DISEGNATO, BY M. MANGO, GALLERIA 42, MODENA (I);
INTRECCIANO, FORO BOARIO, MODENA, (I).
SECRET GARDEN, CURATED BY EDOARDO DI MAURO, GIARDINO DEL BARACCANO, BOLOGNA.
2003
CALENDAR, STUDIO TOMMASEO GALLERY, TRIESTE.
2002
SELECTED, EXPO ART VILLA SERENA ART ASSOCIATION, BOLOGNA.
2001
EXIT, NEON GALLERY, BOLOGNA.
1999/2000
ARTE IN APNEA MULTIMEDIALE, SALARA ART CENTER, BOLOGNA BY DARIO TRENTO.
1998
BELLARIA- A.R.T.E., PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF ART WORKS IN BELLARIA HOSPITAL IN BOLOGNA;
TRASH!, CAMPO DELLE FRAGOLE, BOLOGNA.
1997
UNDER-OVER, ART IN THE SUBWAY, BY FABIOLA NALDI, BOLOGNA (I).
1996
ART FAIR BOLOGNA 1996, WITH GALLERIA CRISTOFORI, BOLOGNA.
1995
LA LUNA, LA STELLA, LA CROCE, PALAZZO FIZZAROTTI, BARI, BY ROSALBA BRANÀ.
1994
360 E-VENTI ROMA NEW-YORK, GALLERY PINO MOLICA, ROME AND NEW YORK, BY PAOLO BALMAS.
1991
EMILIA. DOC, ITALIAN –FRENCH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, BOLOGNA.
1990
VIA COL VENTO, PALAZZO RE ENZO, BOLOGNA, BY M. LUISA FRISA AND D. TRENTO.
1989
OHSESSO, CASSERO DI PORTA SARAGOZZA, BOLOGNA, BY DARIO TRENTO.
MOSAICO, FRANCO ANTONICELLI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, TURIN.
PRESÉNCE DE DOUZE ARTISTES ITALIENS, CONSEIL DÉPARTEMENTAL DE LA CULTURE, BORDEAUX.
1988
TENDENCIAS, S. TERESA DEI MASCHI CURCH, BARI.
1987
INDAGINE87, PALAZZO RE ENZO, BOLOGNA.
1986
MOSAICO. ARTIST’ BOOKS, MARTANO GALLERY, TURIN
BIENNALE DEL MEDITERRANEO,
SALONICCO (GREECE), GALLERY OF MODERN ART.
1985 BIENNALE GIOVANI,
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, BOLOGNA, BY C. CERRITELLI.
1984
BIENNALE GIOVANI, PALAZZO DELLE ESPOSIZIONI, FAENZA, BY C. CERRITELLI.
MUSEO E TERRITORIO, MODERN ART MUSEUM, RIMINI (I).
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
2018 LO SPAZIO POLITICO DELLA BELLEZZA, ELIO FRANZINI IN CHORA PARK; CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION , FONDAZIONE COLLEGIO SAN CARLO, MODENA, ITALY
2016 SOSEI SATO THE CHARME OF Marina Gasparini IS HER FREEDOM on Asahi AIR Review 2016
2016 MASSIMO PULINI Marina Gasparini in Profili del Mondo, il racconto naturale e il paesaggio; Catalogue of the Group exhibition , FAR Fabbrica delle Arti, Rimini.
2014 WORDS, OBJECT, THREADS: A PILOSOPHICAL READING OF MARINA GASPARINI’S ARTWORK, FRANCESCA RIGOTTI IN IL DENARO È UN BENE COMUNE, CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITION.
2014 A HANGING GARDEN MARCO PIERINI, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION IL DENARO È UN BENE COMUNE.
2013 LA RIVOLUZIONE BIANCA DI MARINA GASPARINI, DARIO TRENTO; LIBROBIANCO VALERIO DEHÒ, BENVENUTO IN MIA CASA, VALENTINA COSTA, DRAMMA ROMANZO ANTONIO DORAZIO, IN MARINA GASPARINI ED. GALLERIA MAZZOLI, MODENA.
2012 NOI PITTRICI NON SIAMO COME LE ALTRE, BEATRICE BUSCAROLI, IN LE VISIONI BARBARICHE, CATALOGUE.
2012 CONTEXTILE CATALOGO DELLA MOSTRA ED GUIMARAES .
2012 TERNA PRIZE 04, CATALOGUE, SILVANA EDITRICE.
2011 SPAESAGGIO CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, WITH A POEM BY DI ELISA BIAGINI, D406, MODENA (I).
2010 ELISA BIAGINI, EMILILY DICKINSON HO SENTITO LA VITA CON ENTRAMBE LE MANI, CATALOGUE, FIRENZE CASA GUIDI
2010 MARCELLO PECCHIOLI, PLEASE ME FASHION, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, SABBIONETA (I).
2009 TERNA PRIZE 02, SILVANA PUBLISHER, ROME
2009, CENTO AUTORI, FESTIVALETTERATURA HANDBOOK , MANTUA, 2009.
2007, LUCIANO CARAMEL, FILARE IL TEMPO, (CATALOG OF THE EXHIBITION, ARTE & ARTE EDITION, COMO
2007 PREMIO DELFINI 2007. FONDAZIONE CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI MODENA, NUMBERED EDITION
2006, MARCO MANGO, BAU BAU CATALOG OF THE EXHIBITION, ARTESTAMPA EDITION, MODENA.
2006 MARINA GASPARINI, ELISA BIAGINI, NEL, PULCINO ELEFANTE EDITIONS, OSNAGO, MILAN (I)
2004 M.POZZATI, QUADERNO ROSA CATALOGUE OF THE SHOW, MODENA 2004.
2004, M.POZZATI, INTRECCIANDO LO SPAZIO IN INTRECCIANO CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, ARTESTAMPA PUBLISHER, MODENA (I).
2004 M.MANGO, CANDIDATO DISEGNATO, CATALOG OF THE SHOW, ARTESTAMPA PUBLISHER, MODENA (I).
2000 EXIT, EXHIBITION IN MEMORY OF ROBERTO VITALI, BOLOGNA.
1999, DARIO TRENTO, ARTE IN APNEA MULTIMEDIALE CATOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, LA SALARA, BOLOGNA.
2003/04 CLADESTINO ARTE, ART MAGAZINE BY MARINA MOJANA, DAVIDE RONDONI.
1998, D. TRENTO, DI QUA E DI LÀ DALLA SOGLIA. LAST 40 YEARS OF ICONIC PAINTING, CATALOGUE OF THE SHOW, ELECTA, MILAN.
1995, R. BRANÀ, LA LUNA, LA CROCE, LA STELLA, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, PALAZZO FIZZAROTTI, BARI
1994 CLAUDIO MARRA, WINDOWS, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, ITALIAN-FRENCH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
1993 D. TRENTO IL GRIMALDELLO DELLO STILE, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, TEATRI DI VITA, BOLOGNA
1991 D. TRENTO, 1974-91\ EMILIA.DOC, CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION, RAVENNA, ESSEGI