Meet Elisa Bertaglia

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elisa Bertaglia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elisa, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I think that renewing our own creativity sources is the most important part of keeping up with a honest and challenging artistic research. That’s why curiosity is crucial. I consider myself a very curious person, I visit exhibitions, art fairs, museums, I travel a lot, getting to know different countries and places, I experiment new foods and I love meeting new people and knowing their stories. An artist and their art need nourishment, so creativity can stay alive. Being open to the unknown is the key.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Italy, where I got my MFA at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. My work was included in some important project, such as an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in Venice in 2009 and the 54 Venice Biennale, where I exhibited at the Academie Pavilion, at the Arsenale. At that time I understood how important was for my practice to get inspiration from other cultures and to conduct a research in different countries. With my husband Gabriele Grones, an artist as well, I started traveling the world, especially Asia and the United States. I got great inspiration from our travel to Japan where I also exhibited at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Saitama.
Here in the States I was selected for several artist residency, therefore in 2021 when I was chosen to be part in RU Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn, I decided to move to New York City, and I fell in love with it! I work as a freelance artist and I am represented by different galleries here and in Europe (SARAHCROWN, Martina Corbetta, Galerie MZ, Atipografia, Officine Saffi). In Brooklyn I share a painting and ceramic studio where I am currently working on my upcoming solo show in Italy at Fondazione Officine Saffi in Milan. I’ve recently opened a two-person show in Milan, “Courses, Spells and Other Magics” at Martina Corbetta gallery, and I have several paintings on view at The Invisible Collection, in the Upper East Side, in a group show curated by Lorenzo Beatrix.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Humbleness, perseverance and hard work. I think these three qualities together can make a great artist; probably they are even more important than being talented. I was not born with all of these, but I relearnt them from my experiences and failures. These three features are essential to pursue the dream to be an artist. Once I left my hometown and its safe comfort zone, I understood that the reality is tough: there are so many great artists out there…! Just working hard, questioning my own work all the time and working with honesty, made my research and career improve. Today I still have a lot to achieve.
I think those who want to be artists should focus on their goals and be aware that the change they are waiting for is not coming from the outside, but themselves.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My mum is a psychologist, my dad is retired, he was a worker. Even though they enjoyed them, they’ve never been too much into the arts. Despite this, they’ve always supported me, and still do. They gave me the freedom to pursue my passion and to choose the art career, when I decided to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Later when I decided to move to London first and then New York, they’ve always encouraged me. Also during difficult times I’ve always felt them by my side. Even now that being apart (and so far!) from my family is not easy at all, they are always there for me. I am massively grateful to them for this.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Ph by Cosimo Filippini
Courtesy Fondazione Officine Saffi, Atipografia, Martina Corbetta

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