Meet Elisa Bertaglia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisa Bertaglia.

Hi, Elisa; we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Italy. Since I was a kid, I loved spending hours drawing at my grandmother’s house and filling in many agendas with markers and pencils. Growing up and studying at the Science High School, I understood this was a passion and something I would have liked to become the occupation of my life. I enrolled at Venice Academy of Fine Arts, where I graduated in 2009 with honors, and since then, I have started my career in the art field, exhibiting worldwide in art galleries and museums. Understanding the importance of travel, connections, and interactions with different cultures in my research, I started traveling abroad for short and long periods for art projects, art-related research, and artist residencies. In 2016, I was selected for ESKFF artist residency at MANA Contemporary in Jersey City, so I started coming to New York for 6 months a year. Finally, in 2021, when I got selected for Kunstraum LLC and RU Residency Unlimited artist residencies, I moved back to New York.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It could have been a smoother road. I had to face many unexpected obstacles every day as an artist. First, coming from a small country did not get me used to the broad and robust competition I found in New York. Even if the art scene is fantastic here, many great artists are out there, and everyone is looking for their opportunity. Then, life in New York takes work. It’s a vast city that gives me a lot of input, opportunities, and sources of inspiration. At the same time, it’s very tough; living here requires a lot of energy. The quality of life is not always as good as expected, and being an immigrant makes you feel a little bit of loneliness sometimes, although I’ve always felt welcome here. All the difficulties I’ve found on my way have motivated me. Nothing great comes through a smooth process; all the efforts to reach my goals give me an even better taste of my achievements. Thanks to every difficulty I overcame in the past, I am a better artist now. This made me struggle sometimes, but in the end, it shaped me and my work for the better.

Thanks for sharing that. Can you tell us more about your work next?
In my artistic research, I freely pursue layers of experimentation by using changing mediums and techniques. Despite starting my career primarily as a painter, my practice has become more eclectic and experimental in recent years, leading me to create wall drawings, sculptures, ceramics, installations, large or small-scale paintings, and site-specific projects. Through a philosophical and conceptual approach, I investigate symbols in contemporary society and its short circuit, which brought forth an identity and communication crisis in recent years. In particular, I analyze the symbol as a semantic threshold in which a signifier and a meaning merge to evoke a not-unique message. My research is strongly influenced by oriental philosophical doctrines, which develop a peculiar vision of time and space. As demonstrated by the titles of my work, it is open to different spheres of influence. Literature and cinema have always played a central role in this. Recently, I got a ceramic studio in Brooklyn where I keep making paintings and working on the ceramic medium on a more experimental level. I am always very critical of my work. Still, in my recent projects—related to ancient works preserved at the Brooklyn Museum and contemporary American writers—I am delighted with the homogeneous vision that my work assumed over the years, culminating with my last installation and pictorial projects.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I’ve always considered myself very stubborn, which is essential to my success. I never gave up; I kept working on my practice, following my projects and ideas no matter how many rejections or negative experiences I got. My perseverance gave me the strength to look for improvements and professional growth. Everything I have achieved so far is due to hard work and the attitude of never being satisfied. I’ve always looked forward to the next steps and kept every constructive criticism I received in mind, sometimes seeking them and pushing me over my limits.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elisabertaglia.com
• Instagram: @bertagliaelisa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-bertaglia-ba0a12240/?locale=it_IT

Image Credits
For the images: courtesy Atipografia Gallery, Officine Saffi Gallery, SARAHCROWN Gallery, Martina Corbetta Gallery, MZ Gallery.