Sofia Bianchini | class 1970

When I was a child, in primary school, but also in high school, I stood out for my skills in drawing (freehand and technical) and in literature. My essays and my drawings were in the other classes as examples from which to draw inspiration ... As a teenager, I didn't spend much time with boys and girls my age. I spent my free time painting, listening to music and writing poetry ... 

All this is as if he had suddenly awakened in 2015.

Born in Rome, I live and work in Todi, in my beautiful Umbria, Italy.  I graduated in Foreign Languages ​​in 1989 and obtained my Master in Graphics - design & Communication from Cavendish College in London in 1992.

In the mid-nineties, back in Italy, I came into contact with the world of artists who orbit Todi. Due to my outstanding organizational skills, I was Bruno Ceccobelli's personal assistant for one year. In 1995 I began my collaboration with Beverly Pepper for which I take care of public relations, communication, image and graphics and I follow the organization of exhibitions and events for her and with her all over the world. This bond with Beverly never ends until her recent passing in February 2020.

During the over 20 years spent with her, as in a studio-laboratory, an art academy, but also a school "of life" I have the concrete opportunity to get so close and penetrate the world and the way of contemporary art, digital art, photography, which begin to become my tools of communication and expression.

All the teaching and the incredible experiences gained in the field have been so useful, I would say fundamental, for all the personal and professional jobs and projects that I have carried out since today. All that flow of art, techniques, notions, wonder have been food for my soul, inspiration for my work.

Meanwhile, in 2000 I founded 1000e20 | OneThousandEvents production, the multifaceted agency that deals with communication, image consulting, restyling and events. And it is here, in this context of important organizations that I transfer part of the artistic and creative teachings, and even my laid tables become artist's canvases, graphic projects: paintings. Promotional videos: poetry.

It was precisely in those years of great artistic stimulus that after having made several photo shoots and advertising campaigns for local companies, I approach the world of restyling and in August 2015 I signed a consultancy for a total look restyle of a villa in Umbria. In the two years that follow the design and construction phases, I completely immerse myself in the project and create ad-hoc decorative panels in digital art. My art skills are awakening…

Thus I begin, almost by chance, a new path of life, giving vent and full freedom to everything that in almost 30 years of profound relationship with the world of artists, and art in general, have matured in me.

Since 2010 I am the personal assistant of the gallery owner – art collector, Joseph Helman. In the last ten years, I also owe him privileged teachings from the world of art and collecting. He, like a well from which to drink wisdom, culture and incredible experiences every day, was among the first to push me further, to stimulate me to start creating "my own works".

My artwork is nothing more than the result of the work I've always done: combining elements. The fundamental difference is that now what I create is the result of my ideas and my own experiences, without commission - without borders - without filters. The techniques and tools I use have been familiar to me for over 25 years.

My first "exhibition" materializes during a competition for an international showcase of contemporary photography - LensCulture in 2018, in the competion: ArtPhotography Award - with Marmo unexpectedly seeing me as one of the protagonist in the selection of the best projects, recommended by an international jury of industry experts.

My participation in the contest ends with unexpected and timely feedbacks, and the inclusion in a photographic book by international photographer and curator William Ewing. This project will see the light finally in 2022 and launched in London at the Flowers Gallery. The publication, by Thames & Hudson, Flora Photographica, spectacular and unexpected, offers a definitive overview of one of contemporary photography's most innovative fields, showcasing flower imagery by more than 120 of the world's leading contemporary practitioners.

In 2020, during Covid-19 I am invited to participate to the art-collection by Luciano Benetton: Imago Mundi - Art Theorema 3, Galleria delle Prigioni Treviso, and I am now part of the whole collection.

If I had to describe my work…

Traces of Human Unnatural History, like Breath if you can, like Idioma 2019-20, like Marmo 2018 before it and diver-sea Shanghai 2015, are the result of a juxtaposition of layers and levels. Cultural and experiential layers, emotional and character levels, photographs and imagery, colors and shapes: my great passion for history and geography, the study of social multicultural experience, art and the overwhelming beauty of nature, cultural traditions, languages, roots, maps: both mental and geographical, mazes and puzzles.

Everything in my works is laid, one element on top of the other ... until it merges into a single design. What emerges is my voice.

For my participation to the Festival of Arts 2020 in Todi Umbria, which sees me among the protagonists of the OUT OF TIME section with the project IDIOMA 19 | 20 - in the form of a video projection, Joe Helman wrote:

IDIOMA 19|20

“The work of Sofia, which I have observed in progress, is very compelling, beautiful. Somehow she manages to bring the stone more life, strength and expressiveness. Colorization of the marble with her surprising textures animate and awaken her subjects. For me, it isn't so much about the microcosm of any particular place.  However, there is a universal human content, which is pervasive. And touching!”

Joe Helman