Maddalena Tesser (b. 1992) is an Italian artist currently based in Venice, Italy. She holds a BFA and MFA from the Fine Art Academy of Venice, Italy (2019). Tesser’s paintings introduce a universe in which the power structures of patriarchy never existed, and all types of femininity are free to flourish. Her artistic practice gathers found imagery – a broken seashell from the beach, the reproduction of an obscure print in a restaurant – to form carefully selected compositions placing figures in complex settings. Tesser’s varied use of detail in a single work adds a certain tension to her serene paintings. The result unveils an otherworldly atmosphere through which Tesser contorts time, memory, and identity to challenge historical ideas of feminine sensibility.
Solo exhibitions include Armor, critical text by Antonio Grulli, A plus A Gallery, Venice, Italy (2021); Personalini, Project by Fonazione Malutta, Thomas Braida Studio, Venice, Italy (2016).
Group exhibitions include Where the Wild Roses Grow, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany(2023); Giardino Allitaliana, Curated by Antonio Grulli, Galeria Vzigalica, Italy (20222); Peripheries, New Child Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2022); Venice Time Travel, project curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, Galerie Italienne, Paris, France (2022); Venice Time Travel, Project curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, Galleria Tommaso Calabro, Milan, Italy (2021); About Painting, Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome, Italy (2021), Les Danses Nocturnes, curated by East Contemporary Gallery, Entrevaux, France (2021); The Wall Project, curated by Alessia Romano and Federico Montagna, ArtNoble Gallery, Milan (2021); MEMORABILIA, project by Cescot Veneto, Padova, Italy (2021); Hawth Show II, Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Borgo Colle Melone, Rome (2020); Ri-, A plus A Gallery, Venice, Italy (2020); Noccioline #8, Davide Serpetti and Yellow, L#Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy (2020); It is Untouchabe it is not beautiful, Monitor Gallery, Rome, Italy (2019); Il Gemello Cattivo, Project by Fonazione Malutta, curated by Michela Eremita, Museo Santa Maria della Scala, Siena (2019); La Torre Maluttona + Mercato Babelico, Project by Fondazione Malutta and Poala Capata, Monitor Gallery, Rome, Italy (2019); Brisit de Bardo’ Bardo’, Aiai Caramba, Project by Fonazione Malutta, Spazio, Buonasera, Turin, Italy (2019); Fonazione Malutta, Colleczione Malutta + Black Market, Project by Fonazione Malutta and Paola Capata, Monitor Gallery, Rome, Italy (2017); Perpendicular, Project by Fonazione Malutta, Parallel Vienna Art Fair, Vienna, Austria (2017); Opera Prima, by Miriam Pertegato, Paola Bristot and Riccardo Caldura, ASP-IT IS, Trieste (2017); 98 Collettiva Giovani Artisti, by Stefano Coletto and Angela Vettese, Fonazione Bevilacqua la Masa, Venice, Italy (2015).
Highlights and Collections
Tesser has been the recipient of the 2020 In-Edita program by Venice Galleries View, Forte Marghera, Venice, Italy and the 2019 Simposio di Pittura II by Lac o Le Mon Foundation, Lecce, Italy.