Donatella Marcatajo, born in 1990, is an Italian-based painter.
She’s self-taught and she inherites from her grand-father her painting skills.
She started her artistic path with comics, finding a personal way in watercolors and ink. Some of her works were selected for books illustrations.
Her paintings are focused on the interiority of her soul, getting through and exploring the states of mind against the reality.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
In my paintings, I want to propel the viewer in my own exploration of the soul universe. I’ve always thought that every painting could narrate a unique story, sometimes mine, sometimes inspired by something else, even if it always passes through my lenses. There’s always something to tell, an intrinsic and deep story told through the expressions of my subjects and symbols included on the canvas that could disclose and give my own world in a silent whisper.
My paintings are focused on the interiority of my soul, by getting through and exploring the states of my mind. In this particular moment, I’m trying to investigate the grief and the awareness about the uncontrollable flow of time. I believe that our emotions need to get out in any way we can to not get overwhelmed by them. It’s a process ongoing and I usually be guided only by my personal visions and instinct. I often use titles or quotes of books that inspire me the most or that are accompaning me in this path.
Recent paintings
If you’re interested in the meaning of each work, please look here: Description of works
“Be My Knife”, oil on canvas, 60 x 80 cm, 2018
Close up of Be My Knife
“I Talked To God But The Sky Was Empty”, oil on canvas, 70 x 90 cm, 2018
“The Bell Jar”, oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, 2018
Close up of The Bell Jar
Close up of The Bell Jar
“I Shut My Eyes And All The World Drops Dead”, oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm, 2018 -Not available-
“Vanitas”, oil on canvas, 60 x 90 cm, 2018
“The Waves”, oil on canvas, 60 x 90 cm, 2017
Close up of The Waves
“The Secret Garden”, oil on canvas, 80 x 90 cm, 2016
“The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall”, oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm, 2016
“The Red & The Black”, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 cm, 2016
“The Name Of The Rose”, oil on round canvas, 40 x 40 cm, 2016
Small works
“Fragile Soul”, oil and hand-cutted paper on wood panel, 20 x 25 cm framed.
“Feelings I, II, III”, oil on oval wood panels, 10 cm
“Vicky” oil on canvas, 30 x 30 cm
Selected Exhibitions
2018
“Epeolatry” Group Exhibition, Auxilium Haus, Oregon, US, 7-30 December, 2018
Gallery exhibition finalist, Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington, Australia, 12 – 22 July, 2018