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Michelle Gagliano

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Michelle Gagliano
NationalityAmericans
Known forOil painting
MovementDante Alighieri’s "Inferno", Canto
Websitemichellegagliano.com

Michelle Gagliano is an American artist based in Central Virginia and is known for enigmatic, abstract oil paintings that depict natural forms with textural patinas, particularly of landscapes and light.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Gagliano practices sustainability in her art practice and personal life by growing and making a majority of her materials, such as oil paints, from recipes that derive from the Old Masters of the Renaissance.[7] In 2023, she was inducted as an official member of the Gallery Climate Coalition.[8]

Early life and education

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She was born in Jamestown, New York to a family of Italian, Swedish, and Mayflower origins.[9] She studied painting with Vernon Fisher at North Texas State University. This influenced her experimental dialogue with materials and the historical investigative nature of her work. Fisher encouraged her to study at the Chautauqua School of Art and wrote her a letter of recommendation.[10] She has painting degree from Plymouth State University and Master of Fine Arts from American University.[2][11]

Career

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She has been painting for more than 25 years. She completed residencies at Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Chautauqua School of Art, and Galleria La Nica[12].  She has exhibited solo shows at different cities in the United States, Europe, and Asia.[1][2][13] In 2017 she was awarded a fellowship at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the same recognition give to Cy Twombly in 1949.[14] Since 2018, Gagliano has worked with only non-toxic, sustainable materials that guarantee minimal waste.

She is the first female artist to paint and interpret all 34 Cantos of Dante Alighieri's "Inferno". It took her 33 weeks for her to complete her mixed media interpretation of the "Inferno" and exhibited the work in 2017.[4][15]

In addition to painting full time, Gagliano teaches part time at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches classes she developed herself for illustrating Dante's Inferno and a Modern Materials class that teaches the implementation of sustainable practices in the fine artist's studio.[1]

Exhibitions

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The William King Museum of Art,[16] Virginia Museum of Fine Arts[17] and the American Embassy (Rome, Italy),[18] are among the public collections holding or have held work by Gagliano.[19][20]

Awards

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She received Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship award in 2017.[19][20]

Selected publications

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She has published the book

  • Once Again to See the Stars: A Contemporary Vision of Dante's Inferno.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ECA_RootedDownandRisingUp_7_2017 by Elisa Contemporary Art - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "The transubstantiation of shoepolish | Exhibit Opening | Department of Art". art.as.virginia.edu. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Velvet, Dear (March 2, 2014). "The Art And Alchemy Of Michelle Gagliano". ART GAME. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Artist Michelle Gagliano Paints Dante's "Inferno"". HuffPost. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "The Transubstantiation of Shoe Polish inaugura la mostra di Michelle Gagliano". AgrPress (in Italian). Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "The Modern Mural: Reinventing the Feature Wall". blog.bimsmith.com. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "About – Michelle Gagliano". Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Artist". Gallery Climate Coalition. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Michelle Gagliano @ Rome Art Week". Rome Art Week. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "Welcome to Chautauqua Visual Arts | School of Art, Galleries, Lectures". Chautauqua Visual Arts. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Michelle Gagliano". Chroma Projects. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "Michelle Gagliano CV – Michelle Gagliano". Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Marniemi, J.; Parkki, M. G. (September 1, 1975). "Radiochemical assay of glutathione S-epoxide transferase and its enhancement by phenobarbital in rat liver in vivo". Biochemical Pharmacology. 24 (17): 1569–1572. doi:10.1016/0006-2952(75)90080-5. ISSN 0006-2952. PMID 9.
  14. ^ "Visual Arts Fellowships 2025–26 - Programs | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts". February 21, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "To hell and back". C-VILLE Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tours at Two for Alchemy of Light with artist Michelle Gagliano – WKMA". www.williamkingmuseum.org. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bo'c- thonnach - Exhibitions". August 9, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Michelle Gagliano: Murmurations". Second Street Gallery. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  19. ^ a b info@arte.it, ARTE it Srl-. "Michelle Gagliano. The Transubstantiation of Shoe Polish - Mostra - Roma - Inclusivo Design - Arte.it". www.arte.it (in Italian). Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Michelle Gagliano – Artist | Artelier | Art Consultancy". Artelier. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Once Again to See the Stars: A Contemporary Vision of Dante's Inferno. Michelle Gagliano. November 7, 2020. ISBN 978-0-578-78501-1.
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