Martina Merlini, born in 1986 in Bologna, is an Italian artist who lives and works in Milano.
She is an Italian artist whose work is known for its constant evolution.
Starting with illustrations, she explored new techniques and materials
that are all reflective of her search for a formal balance and geometrical harmony.
In the last years, she has developed and perfected her own technique
using wax and enamel, trying to define a rawness that reminds of the typical
casualty of nature, and yet the invisible rules that flow through. The young
artist thrives on experience and learning through which she gains knowledge
of her own self.
This newly gained knowledge permeates through a variety of
expressive contexts such as street art and installations.
In search of balance, Martina uses materials such as wax and varnishes on
poor media like paper or wood.
The quiet and powerful compositional balance
is found when strict, geometrical lines juxtapose the flow of natural instinct
and impulses. Born in 1986 in Bologne, Martina has come a long way, having
a number of exhibitions dedicated to her.
She has participated in a variety
of events and festivals, including Living Walls, which was the first festival of
street art done by women, in Atlanta, the USA in 2012, and the prestigious Le
Mur in Paris in 2015, she did a residency in
Queretaro, Mexico in collaboration
with Galerie Libertad in 2017 and a project with Italian Consulate in Brazil and
Museu Naciolal de Belas Artes in Rio de Janeiro in 2019.
As a keen researcher of human nature, Martina plays with geometrical lines,
investigating the notion of limit in a subtle and refined way. Perpetually poised
between the rational and the irrational, the artist utilizes dense pictorial traits
symmetrical by nature to continue her research. As the lines begin to disjoint
unexpectedly under the impulse of primordial forces. In a constant struggle
with his own limitations, it is in human nature to turn elsewhere in search of
a way to break the boundaries. The only way to surmount what seems to be
an insurmountable barrier is with imagination. Only this way can the limits be
re-invented and re-created, and the artist is the one who holds the power of
manifesting and projecting these newly found limitless forms of expression.
Merlini’s work has been exhibited across Europe and the USA, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
Solo exhibitions:
2019
Jornadas do Contemporaneo - Forma Temporale
Installation, Museu Nacional de Bellas Artes, Rio de Janeiro BR
2018
Archivio- First Amendment Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017
Enfasi - Chiara Ronchini Arte Contemporanea, Terni
Curved Installation #3 - Voci per la Libertà by Deltarte - Museo della bonifica,
Taglio di Po
2014
Starch, Wax, Paper & Wood - White Walls, San Francisco CA
2013
Totem - Officine della Stampa, Bologna
WAX - Spazio Elastico, Bologna
2012
LEBE - RADIO, Milano
Group shows:
2020
Abstract now! Italy - group show - Magma Gallery, Bologna
2019
Pain(t) - group show - Swinton Gallery, Madrid
Urvanity - w/ Swinton Gallery, Madrid
Illusions, group show - Backwoods Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
5 years anniversary show - Mini Galerie, Amsterdam
Afterimages, duo show - Magma Gallery, Bologna
Jornadas do Contemporaneo - Forma Temporale - installation, Museu Nacional
de Bellas Artes, Rio de Janeiro BR
Jornadas do Contemporaneo - wall intervention - Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro BR
2018
Mural Intervention x La Cattedrale Immaginata, Modena
Swinging arms - Odd One Out Gallery, Honk Hong
Tramite Buro de Collecionistas - Celaya Brothers Gallery, Queretaro, MX
ProAbstraction - Swinton Gallery, Madrid
Urvanity Art Fair - w/ Galeria Balneario, Madrid
2017
Traiettorie - curated by Galeria Balneario - Galeria Libertad, Queretaro MX
Ten Ten - Le Raclet, Berlin
Forever never comes - Museo Archeologico di Grosseto
This will ruin everything - The Lighthouse, Glasgow
Varsi collective show - Varsi Gallery, Roma
2410 Festival - Rifugio Brioschi, Vetta Grigna
Two Years Anniversary - Athen B. Gallery, Oakland
Endless - Magma Gallery, Bologna
Abstractism - curated by Altrove Festival - Varsi gallery, Roma
Reset - Athen B. Gallery, Oakland
2016
Triscele project w/ Moneyless & Sten Lex - Sicily
Todo en Orden - Celaya Brothers Gallery, Mexico City
Kwerschnitt - Schau Fenster, Berlin
Ready, Set. - Athen B. Gallery, Oakland CA
Exceptional - Scream Gallery, London
4Urban Tales - Magma Gallery, Bologna
2015
From the archaic to the internet archive - Egg Visual Art, Livorno
Dicotomia -Bipersonal show, Atipografia, Arzignano VI
Reminiscence goes to Ritmo - Ritmo Indipendente, Catania
XV classes project - St. Jean de Lux
Un dessin est beau si la lingne est vivante - Winterlog Gallery, Niort
House warming - Athen B. Gallery, Oakland
Restart Cassina - Cassina de Pecchi, Milano
Altrove / Abstractism - Casa Altrove, Catanzaro
Reminiscence - Mini Galerie, Amsterdam
Viavai - The Don gallery, Milano
La Bellezza fa 40 - Casetello Carlo V, Lecce
Le Mur XIII - Paris
2014
A Major Minority - 1AM gallery, San Francisco CA
Mamuthones, Issohadores - Superbudda, Torino
XXxXX - Studio D’Ars @ Step Art Fair, Milano
Space//Squared - White Walls, San Francisco CA
Apertura - Mini Galerie, Amsterdam
Cheap Festival - Bologna
Altrove Festival - Catanzaro
Viavai Festival - Racale
2013
Razorsicht - Santeria, Milano
Memory and Ttraces - Edward Cutler gallery, Milano
Growing up - DFA partners, Milano
Memorie Urbane, Terracina
Drawings for the masses - 999 gallery, Roma
Garten - Superground, Milano
Berlini spring show - Stattbad, Berlin
I low art - Artcore gallery, Bari
Carta Canta - Antonio Colombo Artecontemporanea, Milano
2012
Asylum - Skitsch, Milano
A4GOD - Radio, Milano
Bubka - Santeria, Milano
G.E.N.T.E. mural - Milano
Ilfuturonelletuemani - Bra
Living Walls conference exhibition - Atlanta, GA
Essenziale - Nastro say yes, Milano
Attack festival - Palazzo Candiotti, Foligno
LEBE - an anthology of african gods - RAM Hotel, Bologna
Rodeo Drawing Night - Galleria Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea, Milano
Little Circus - Galleria Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea, Milano
A la sombra del árbol - Palacio Quintanar, Segovia
2011
Till Pink - Santeria, Milano
Centocinquanta - Macò, Taranto
Asylum w/ Tellas - Zelle ArteContemporanea, Palermo
Super 8 - Santeria, Milano
Sweets Sheets - Zelle Artecontemporanea, Palermo