Immersed in a period where contemporary art serves as a tool for reflection and introspection, the exhibition “Through Colors” emerges as a significant opportunity to explore the expressive power of color and painterly gesture.
The Art Space Temporary Lab is delighted to present “Through Colors“, the first solo exhibition of the versatile artist Antonella Quartaroli, curated by Mauro Silani. The vernissage will take place on April 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm.
Representing an immersive journey into her artistic research, the exhibition spans from figurative to informal and abstract expressions.
The Artistic Language of Antonella Quartaroli
Antonella Quartaroli is an artist whose creative impulse stems from an instinctive, spontaneous, yet deep and intuitive nature. Her art evolves in a dimension free from academic constraints, allowing her to investigate reality without filters or conceptual mannerisms. Her works, characterized by intense expressive concreteness, narrate everyday life in a natural and disarming manner.
“Through Colors” captures the full force and energy of Quartaroli’s painterly gesture, a language fueled by instinct and spontaneity, elements derived from her passion for dance. Her experience as a dancer is reflected in her works through a rhythmic alternation of line, gesture, and color, reminiscent of the compás of flamenco, a practice she pursued under the guidance of the master Caterina Costa. Just like in flamenco, rhythm becomes an inner vibration in her painting: “Without rhythm, there is no flamenco. It’s a vibration that goes inside.”
The exhibition features 58 works divided into two sections: the first set up in the main hall showcasing pieces from 2020 to 2024, with a focus on the pandemic period; the second, more intimate section, arranged as a true atelier, presents works spanning from 1991 to 2014, encapsulating her artistic journey.
The pandemic era represented a moment of profound reflection for the artist. During these years of forced isolation, Antonella Quartaroli experimented with new techniques and a more instinctive and material expressive language, drawing inspiration from the biting energy of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Her work delved into themes like isolation, resilience, and inner change, highlighted in pieces like “Prisoner.” In these canvases, color and material merge to express emotional tension and the search for awareness, giving life to visually impactful and chromatic works.
The Relationship with Master Gianpaolo Berto
In the smaller room, set up informally as a true atelier, the artist invites us to trace the main stages of her artistic journey, where her friendship and collaboration with Master Gianpaolo Berto have been crucial. Quartaroli participated in various artistic initiatives and projects under Berto’s guidance, including the exhibition “Io Sono Frida” at the Galleria Spazio 40 in Rome in 2014, curated by him.
This exhibition offers the public the opportunity to immerse themselves in the expressive universe of an artist who makes creative freedom her distinctive feature.
The vernissage on April 14 will be a special occasion to meet Antonella Quartaroli and discover her vision of art in an open dialogue with the audience.
Biography
Antonella Quartaroli was born in Rome on October 5, 1961, and her relationship with art and creativity manifested from childhood.
In 1986, she enrolled in the school “dello Scarabocchio” at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, studying perception theory and the psychology of form. At the same time, she attended drawing and painting courses at the S. Giacomo Institute.
During these years, she also studied dance at the Wilson School, where, under the guidance of the internationally renowned teacher Caterina Costa, she developed a passion for flamenco.
This encounter profoundly influenced her painting style and artistic approach, instinctive and primal yet free and disciplined, in a creative process that follows a rhythm between form and colors, never satiated with experimentation, always evolving from dance to painting, from flamenco to jazz through rhythm and blues.
An essential meeting for her artistic journey was with Master Gianpaolo Berto, an emeritus professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. This encounter evolved into a friendship and artistic collaboration, enriching her creative vision.
Antonella Quartaroli is a very active artist in the Roman and international art scene, participating in many group exhibitions, winning the 4th edition of the Eureka Prize in 2012.
The Oxford Collective
Established in January 2018, the Oxford Collective aims to combine interests in artistic, scientific, and philosophical dissemination from common roots. It emerged from meetings and symposia held at the Hotel Oxford in Rome.
From these encounters, a true artistic movement was born, proposing an itinerant national and international exhibition titled “ARCAICO E PRESENTE,” recognized by Master Gianpaolo Berto and founder Mauro Silani as “IL NUOVO SPAZIALISMO ROMANO.”
This itinerant exhibition, collecting and presenting works by the collective artists, represents just the starting point of a broader cultural promotion project to be launched in the territories hosting it.
“We consider art and sociality as the prerequisites for the regeneration of the social and cultural fabric of cities,” explains Mauro Silani, creator of the project and curator of the exhibition. “This itinerant project means actively contributing to the process of rebuilding social relationships through art and research, for two reasons: Firstly, our collective is a true laboratory open to the contribution of local, national, and international artists. Secondly, at each exhibition, we ensure the participation of schools, institutions, and cultural associations, with the hope of opening operational headquarters throughout the country and abroad.”
** Group Exhibitions **
In addition to her personal research, Antonella Quartaroli has participated in numerous group exhibitions, contributing to the dissemination of her artistic poetics both nationally and internationally. These exhibitions have been fundamental milestones in her professional growth, allowing her to engage with artists from different currents and further refine her creative expression, solidifying her presence in the contemporary art scene.
Some of the main exhibitions include:
• 2024/2025 – “Kontemporanea” permanent group exhibition of the Oxford Collective at the Spazio Q’4RT of the Hotel Oxford in Rome, curated by Mauro Silani.
• 2017 – “La Donna e l’Autunno” group exhibition at the Museo Crocetti in Rome, curated by Mauro Silani.
• 2016 – “Immagini dello Spirito e dell’Intelletto” at the IMAGO MUNDI CaveArt Gallery in Rome, curated by Giorgio Palumbi.
• 2016 – “Donna Natura e Fiore nell’Arte” at the Galleria UNDERGROUND in Rome, curated by Giorgio Palumbi.
• 2015 – “Incontro Con La Solitudine” at the Coronari 111 Art Gallery in Rome.
• 2015 – Modern Art Biennale of Palermo, curated by Paolo Levi and Sandro Serradifalco with the collaboration of Vittorio Sgarbi.
• 2015 – Spectrum Miami Art Show.
• 2014 – “Io Sono Frida” at the Galleria Spazio 40 in Rome, curated by Gian Paolo Berto.
• 2014 – “ABSTRACT” duo exhibition at the Coronari 111 Art Gallery in Rome.
• 2014 – ART Rombolino Art Gallery in Florida.
• 2013 – “Il Nudo nell’Arte” painting exhibition at the Galleria Maggiore in Rome.
• 2012 – “Cosmo Cromie e Plasticismi” at the Sant’Andrea al Quirinale monumental complex, Rome.
• 2012 – “Amore e Psiche” at the Coronari 111 Art Gallery in Rome.
• 2012 – “Materia Energia Arte” at the Angelica Library in Rome.
• 2011 – Group exhibition at the Teatro dei Dioscuri in Rome.
** Awards **
In 2012 – 4th Edition of the Eureka Prize at the Domus Talenti in Rome, 1st place.
For more information, please contact Mauro Silani at mauro.silani@gmail.com.
“Through Colors“
Solo exhibition by Antonella Quartaroli, curated by Mauro Silani
Vernissage: April 14, 2025
Location: Art Space Temporary Lab, Via Salaria 222/E, Rome
Duration: April 14 to April 30
