Gabriella Furno, born on April 11 1986, in Paris, began her artistic journey in 2001 when she joined the studio of sculptor Valentina Zeile (an important Latvian sculptor).
In 2004, she won a competition to enter the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, where she studied under the guidance of artist Richard Deacon and took painting classes with Sébastien Salva.
In 2007, seeking a deeper understanding of anatomy, she left the École des Beaux-Arts and enrolled at the Repin Institute of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg in Russia
Her quest for perfection in drawing led her to Carrara, Tuscany, in 2011, where she learned the art of marble sculpting.
Her travels continued in 2012 to Bahia, Brazil, where she drew inspiration from African body movements and rhythms and developed a keen interest in the history of African slavery. This experience profoundly influenced her early research. Her drawing was exhibiting at The Bahia Museum of Art.
The following year, a trip to Seville and Granada, with their rich Islamic influences, inspired her to move to Istanbul. There, she opened a workshop to delve deeper into Islamic culture while continuing to explore African art. This period marked a significant point in her artistic evolution, as she integrated three-dimensional geometric in her way of looking at human figure.
In 2015 she exhibited at the Philharmonie in Paris, presenting a critical research work against cancer titled “Invisible Energy.”
By 2016, in her Istanbul studio, she began experimenting with aluminum casting techniques, producing four notable sculptures.
Infinity,Pandora,Black lives matter,Despair
Furno Sicilian heritage drew her to Palermo in 2017, where she opened a new studio. Palermo’s cultural diversity became a fertile ground for her creative pursuits. She became actively involved in immigration and human rights, creating sculptures that vividly depicted the suffering of marginalized individuals. In 2018, she participated in the “Geometrie Naturali | Outdoor exhibition, creating a massive 7-meter-long giraffe made entirely of reusable plastic bottles. This project, themed “Earth under your feet,” supported social activities aimed at improving the planet’s ecosystem.
The following year, she was invited to the Munich festival to collaborate with Nigerian multimedia artist Jelili Atiku in a performance titled “OLOMOYOYO,” which focused on ritual apology and atonement for daily child abuse.
In 2020, she performed in Piazza Pretoria in Palermo, supporting protests against corruption in Nigeria.
In 2022, Gabriella was invited to the Museum of the Sea in Pantelleria, Italy, where she exhibited her sculptures on the theme «Immersion».
In 2023, she organized three major exhibitions at Palazzo Merlo, Palermo: “Experience the Unspoken” in April, “Beyond Human” on July 21, and “Progenesi” on November 11.
In 2024 one of her sculptures « infinity » integrated the collection of Giovani Costantino.
Gabriella’s journey is a testament to her relentless pursuit of artistic excellence, cultural exploration, and social activism. Her work continues to evolve, blending various cultural influences and addressing critical social issues through her unique artistic vision.
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