Federica Aiello Pini is a mixed-media and collage artist dedicated to celebrating nature's beauty while highlighting climate emergencies and human rights, with particular attention to the experiences of women, migrants, and Indigenous communities.
By intertwining mythological narratives and shamanic traditions, she connects ancient stories and profound knowledge to contemporary environmental and social challenges, emphasizing their timeless and universal relevance.
Mixed media (acrylic, oil, pastel, pencil, gold leaf, crystals) allow her to evoke multiple perceptions and sensations, while through collage made of pieces of her previous works, torn and reassembled in a communion and fusion of different times, she builds a different idea of time: not linear, but synchronic, in which past, present and future coexist, interweaving possibilities and solutions.
If we approach reality in a new way, perhaps we can glimpse opportunities, open paths, forge new journeys.
The artistic investigation also involves the human being with his emotions, transformed into abstraction in the course of the creative process, just as abstract and universal are the human experiences: she expresses them in particular through the theme of the kiss, recurring in her production. In fact, emotions also connect different times and places in our inner world.
BIOGRAPHY
Federica studied Fine Arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Bologna and Illustration in Florence. Her mastery of paper, a central material in her work, was deepened through the Masterclass in Visual Art and Design at the Venice Biennale, "Segni d'acqua, la carta e le sue tradizioni."
She is currently a fellow in the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship.
Throughout her career, Federica has explored and developed her artistic research through live performances, often collaborating with musicians. Her journey began in Italy with Teatro all'Improvviso for "Summer Solstice. The Music of Wonders" at Palazzo Te, Mantua, in 2012, and continued in Holland at Amstel 41 Gallery in Amsterdam, and in Panama City at Jeronimo Gallery. These experiences led to her invitation as a visiting professor at the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático (ESAD) in Cordoba, Spain, where she conducted expressive arts workshops for the course of studies in Acting and Scenography, in 2013.
Having lived in Panama for several years, Federica's work was deeply influenced by its lush forests and vibrant colors. This influence continued in Portugal, where the powerful energy of the ocean enriched her creative universe.
Her Penelope Series also drew inspiration from the Kuna indigenous women of Panama, who in many cases were gaining confidence and independence through their traditional crafts.
As an illustrator, Federica's passion for connecting distant places, times, cultures, and ideas led her to create a series of coloring books dedicated to cities for the Italian publisher Oligo Editore.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and her pieces are part of private and institutional collections worldwide, including the Portuguese Embassies in Panama and Oslo.
A strong advocate for using the arts to enhance health and well-being, Federica collaborates with institutions such as the Fondazione Palazzo Te, Casa del Mantegna in Mantua, and Carlo Poma Hospital to develop expressive arts workshops and cultural initiatives for social welfare.
In her current role as a United Nations Online Volunteer, she serves as a Simuka Africa Contributor.
STUDIO CONTACT: federica@aiellopini.com
EDUCATION
2024
Certified Global Arts in Medicine Fellow, Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship
Certificate in Healing with the Arts, University of Florida
2023
Certificate in Art History, Sorbonne University
2011
Visual Art and Design Masterclass, Venice Biennale
2008
BFA, magna cum laude, Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, Painting Major
2004
Three-Year Diploma in Illustration, Scuola Internazionale di Comics, Florence
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
MITO, two-person exhibition with Dario Moretti, curated by Stefano Trombini, Casa del Pittore, Mantova, Italy
On Fire site- specific installation for “The Artist Is Present”, Spazio Te - Palazzo Te, Mantova, in collaboration with Accademia delle Arti
2023
Del sogno, un ponte, Casa di Rigoletto, Mantova, curated by Carlo Micheli
2019
Flirting with Chaos, Studio d’arte Galana, curated by Giovanni Pasetti, Mantova, Italy
2017
Casco Viejo Gardens, Ariana Lima Atelier, Panama City, Panama
2016
Boom, Jeronimo Gallery, curated by Andrew Hyde and Leandro Ciciliani, Panama City, Panama
2015
Arquetipas, Jeronimo Gallery, curated by Andrew Hyde and Leandro Ciciliani, Panama City, Panama
2014
Falling in Love, Home Gallery 1 Stile, curated by Mara Pasetti, Mantova, Italy
2013
And then all life comes crowding into one single hour, Amstel 41 Gallery, curated by Rini Antonissen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2012
L'unico legame fra silenzio e parola, Sala delle Colonne, Ponti sul Mincio, Mantova, Italy
2011
Ri-tratti, Palazzo del Mago, curated by Carlo Micheli, Mantova, Italy
2008
Digressione, Castello degli Agolanti, Riccione, Italy
Nel vuoto, Atelier777 Contemporary Art, curated by Angelo Raffaele Villani, Cosimo Damiano Annese e Andrea Guarnieri, Pescara, Italy
2006
Uscire dal vuoto, UGC Cité Parco Leonardo, Rome, Italy
Selected GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Arteam Cup 2024 - Finalists Exhibition, curated by Livia Savorelli and Matteo Galbiati, Fortezza del Priamàr, Savona, Italy
2023
Connections, Manuel Zoia Gallery, Milan, Italy
Liminal places, Villa Brentano, sponsored by Comune di Busto Garolfo, Assessorato alla Cultura, Fondazione Villoresi Poggi, Busto Garolfo, Milan, Italy
Unfair, Superstudio Maxi, Milan, Italy
2022
Aqua Art Miami - Miami Art Week, AC Latin Art Contemporary, curated by Cristina De La Vega, Miami, USA
Arteam Cup 2022 - Finalists exhibition, curated by Livia Savorelli and Matteo Galbiati, Fortezza del Priamàr, Savona, Italy
BAAM, Monopol Gallery, curated by di Sofia Nordmann e José Contreras Aguad, Berlin
The Other Art Fair, London, UK
Volta Basel, Basel, AC Latin Art Gallery, curated by Cristina de la Vega, Switzerland
2021
Human Rights? @Work, curated by Roberto Ronca, AIAPI - UNESCO Official Partner, Fondazione Campana dei Caduti - Rovereto - Trento, Italy
2020
Ogilvy Art Auction, Sea Containers, London
Human Rights? The Future's Shape #Womencansavetheworld, curated by Roberto Ronca, AIAPI - UNESCO Official Partner, Fondazione Campana dei Caduti - Rovereto - Trento, Italy
2019
Priority Mail, Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, New York City, USA
2018
Macmillan Artshow, Ogilvy UK, Sea Containers, London, UK
2017
WBAI, Chesterfield Gallery, Manhattan, New York City, USA
2016
Séptimo Salón de ilustración Imagenpalabra, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Universidad Los Libertadores, and ASAB Facultad de Artes Universidad Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia
IX Biennale d'arte Giovani, curated by Gianfranco Ferlisi, MAM, Gazoldo degli Ippoliti, Mantua, Italy.
Retrospectiva, Jeronimo Gallery, curated by Andrew Hyde and Leandro Ciciliani, Panama City, Panama
GAM, Casa del Mantegna, curated by Vincenzo Denti and Gianfranco Ferlisi, Mantua, Italy
Salón de GIF animado: Puntogif, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá, Colombia
2015
Pop-UP Art Show Macrofest, curated by Martin Peleritti, Panama City, Panama
2014
Recortar Palavras, Galeria Almedina, Coimbra, Portugal
Polirone luogo di pace, curated by Club UNESCO, Polirone, San Benedetto Po, Mantua, Italy
Expo Diaspora, Galerie B, Bocholt, Germany
Mantegna Cercasi, curated by Francesca Baboni, Alberto Mattia Martini, Stefano Taddei, Casa del Mantegna, Mantua, Italy
Imprimatvr Biennale, curated by Donato Novellini and Vincenzo Denti, Chiesa Castello, San Martino dall’Argine, Italy
Xarirabam, Museu Municipal, Coimbra, Portugal
2013
Book in the box, Archivio di Stato, Mantua, Italy
Mantegna Cercasi - Orientalmente, Centro storico, Mantua, Italy 2012
I Giovani del Premio Ricoh, Spazio Idroart, Milano, Italy
Tracce d’arte, Palazzo della Ragione, curated by Carlo Micheli, Mantua, Italy
Premio Ricoh, Idroscalo, Milan, Italy
2011
Premio Ricoh, Spazio Oberdan, Milan, Italy
Arte a Mantova 2000-2010, Persistenze Verifiche e Nuove Presenze, Casa del Mantegna, curated by Claudio Cerritelli, Mantua, Italy
2008
Tra le illustrazioni, Premio Cinema e Narrativa dedicato a Sandra Braibanti, Castello dell'Imperatore, Prato, Italy
2007
Alchimia, curated by Pollywood, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, San Benedetto Po, Mantua, Italy
2006
Il mio letto è una nave, ENSAD, Paris, France
Il visibile e l’invisibile, curated by Pollywood, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, San Benedetto Po, Mantua, Italy
Premio Samp, Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna, Italy
COLLECTIONS
Embassy of Portugal in Oslo, 2023
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, commissioned 2023
Embassy of Portugal in Panama, 2016
Ricoh, 2011
COLLABORATIONS
2024
United Nations Online Volunteer: Contributor and Art Judge for Simuka Africa
2023
Fondazione Palazzo Te and Carlo Poma Hospital: Art workshop “L’arTE che cura. Rubens e gli eroi”, clinical study to evaluate the impact of art on patients' well-being
2019
United Nations: Illustrations for the promotion of the first ever World’s Largest Mountain Hiking event, organized by Simuka Africa NGO
2018
Ogilvy UK and Macmillan Cancer Support: Art Auction
ARTIST’S RESIDENCIES
2013, Amstel 41 Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2011, Otranto Arts Residency, Castello di Otranto, Italy
Publications / CATALOGUES
2024
Piccola città bastardo posto, Roberto Barbolini, cover illustration by Federica Aiello Pini 2023
Un viaggio impossibile, Giovanni Pasetti, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore 2022
Espoarte, Contemporary Art Magazine, Vanilla Edizioni
Colora la tua Roma, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
2021
Colora la tua Verona, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
2019
Colora la tua Milano, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
Colora la tua Torino, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
Colora la tua Bologna, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
2018
Colora la tua Mantova, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Oligo Editore
2016
Mantova da colorare, illustrated by Federica Aiello Pini, Il Rio Edizioni
2014
Expo Diaspora, Exhibition catalogue, Kunsthaus Bocholt, LWL Bocholt Westf. Landesmuseum für Industriekultur, and Galerie B, DE
2013
Orientalmente - Mantegna Cercasi, Exhibition catalogue, Publi Paolini Publisher
2012
Tracce d’Arte, Exhibition catalogue
Identità femminili dell’arte contemporanea a Mantova, Exhibition catalogue - MUVI, Arti Grafiche Castello
I giovani del premio Ricoh, Exhibition catalogue
Premio Ricoh, Exhibition catalogue
2011
Arte a Mantova 2000-2010, Persistenze verifiche e nuove presenze, Claudio Cerritelli, Exhibition catalogue, Publi Paolini Publisher
2010
Ars Opus Apertum - Monstrum Exhibition catalogue
2009
Co.Co.Co Como Contemporary Contest, Exhibition catalogue
2008
Piccole Impronte - LAV magazine, illustrations by Federica Aiello Pini
2007
Edison Square Magazine, illustrations by Federica Aiello Pini
