Federica Zianni

Rome, 1993
Lives and works in Milan

Federica Zianni graduated in Sculpture from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. She returned there in 2022 as a lecturer in Foundry Techniques. She is currently a scholarship recipient and PhD candidate in Artistic Research within the Cultural Heritage and Creativity – Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Art program at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lecce.

The practice of art, like the formation of religions and myths, is common to all human beings and has been present in every culture since the dawn of humanity. Through her research, Federica Zianni seeks to reflect on how art, understood as a practice, represents a meeting point—a neutral ground where contemporary fears and issues such as identity, cultural heritage, eco-anxiety, and migration can be explored in a direct and demonstrative way through sculptural installations and performances.
The artist primarily works with synthetic and often repurposed materials, such as inner tubes and tourniquets, frequently combining them with classical materials like brass and bronze, using the lost-wax casting technique to which she is deeply attached.
In her work, she addresses the theme of self-introspection, analyzing the paradoxes and contradictions of the human condition, starting from her own experience. The artist’s personal background and education serve as a starting point for a broader reflection on the concept of family—as both a vehicle for cultural transmission and a space of entrapment and salvation—on nature, or rather the responsibility and awareness each individual holds regarding their impact on it, and on the notion of violence, both physical and psychological, overt or subtle and unconscious.
Drawing from her studies, she incorporates elements of classical mythology, reinterpreting archetypal images of birth, death, creation, and destruction.

SOLO SHOWS

2025
Zianni-Bianchi, curated by Francesco de Molfetta, Archivio Rachele Bianchi, Milan

2024
IMMAGINA, premio ideato dal Gruppo MAG SpA, curated by Brigida Mascitti, Museo MAXXI, Rome
Barren Forest, curated by Simona Bartolena, Villa Greppi, Monticello Brianza

2023
In-Caute Trame, curated by Roberta Tosi, galleria SpazioCima, Rome
Intersectiones, curated by Maria Laura Perilli, Galleria Triphè, Rome

2022
Paradoxa, Manuel Zoia Gallery, curated by Alessandra Sebastiano, Milan

2020
Natura, Nature, Galleria Triphè, curated by Maria Laura Perilli, Rome

2019
Silenzio come contatto, Fondazione Passarè curated by Giulio Calegari, Milan

GROUP SHOWS

2025
Dal femminile al plurale, Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, con Manuel Zoia Gallery, Varedo
Frammenti. Di piante, di cose, di mondo. La natura morta nell'arte contemporanea, curated by Mariateresa Zagone, galleria Villa Contemporanea, Monza

2024
Horizons, Manuel Zoia Gallery, Milan
Libere perfino di sparire, curated by Venus in Furs, con il patrocinio del comune di Milano, Ex Fornace Alzaia
Back and Forth, Raffaella de Chirico Arte Contemporanea, Milan
Collezione Biagi, curated by Francesco Finotti, Galleria Faroarte, Ravenna
Magnetik Zone, curated by Antonio Sammartano, Magazzini dell’arte Contemporanea, Trapani
Mellone Art Prize, Atomic Art, curated by Fondazione Villoresi Poggi, Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia di Milan
Note ai margini. Visioni, sottolineature e riflessioni sul paesaggio, mostra diffusa a cura di Luminanda, comune di Tremezzina (CO)

2023
Non sei sola, curated by City Art, patrocinato dal Comune di Milano, installazione site specific, Parco Trotter, Milano
Art, Architecture and Landscape, curated by Francesca Ciampa, organized by Extrartis, Artists Residencies for Creative Economy, Capri
Cantautori di Frontiera, curated by Simona Bartolena, Teatro Binario 7, Monza
Verde contemporaneo, curated by Monica Villa, Villa Contemporanea (VA)
Arcipelago. Nessuno è veramente un’isola, 7° edition, curated by Francesco Finotti e Sandro Malossini, Fondazione Rocca dei Bentivoglio, Valsamoggia
Innesti, curated by Luigi Codemo, with the support of Isorropia Home Gallery, GASC – Galleria D’arte Sacra Dei Contemporanei, Milan
Contemporanea Prize, curated by Spazio Hangar, Palazzo Ducale Orsini-Colonna, Tagliacozzo
Luigi Candiani Award, SAC-Spazio Arte Contemporanea, Robecchetto with Induno
Io Sono Radice#2023, curated by Marilena Morabito and Floriana Spanò, Palazzo San Bernardino and Museo della Liquirizia Giorgio Amarelli, Rossano
Play_Act. Arte per comunità in transizione: Patto di cura per le città, curated by Dipartimento di Architettura dell’Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Palazzo Gravina, Naples
International sculptur award Gabbioneta 2023, promoted by Trillium Pumps Italy - Gabbioneta Pumps Biblioteca d’Arte Contemporanea Guido Ballo, Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan

2022
Vittorio Viviani Award, curated by Libera Accademia di Pittura di Nova Milanese, Villa Brivio
Artkeys Prize, Ex Tabacchificio di Cafasso, Paestum
Premio Arte, curated by Cairo Editore, Palazzo Reale, Milano
Alle Ortiche Festival, curated by Alle Ortiche Hub, Serre di San Nicola, Genoa
It's time, curated by Galleria Vittoria, Galeria Stara Prochownia, Warsaw, Poland
LAND ART AL FURLO XIII edition, Terra d’Arte e di Musica, curated by Casa degli Artisti, Sant’Anna del Furlo
Lezione aperta, curated by Marcella Vanzo, with the support of Zona K, Gabi Scardi, Paola Clerico and Matteo Bergamini, Milan
Visioni (S)velate, VIR Viafarini-in-residence, curated by Elena Bray, Milan
Premio Daniele Semprebene, curated by Federica Fabrizi and Nadia di Mastropietro, ART G.A.P Gallery, Rome
Female Gaze, curated by Rubina Postiglione, Galleria Medina, Rome
Viafarini Open Studio, VIR Viafarini-in-residence, curated by Giulio Verago, Milan

2021
In-edita 2, Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, coordinated by Galerie Alberta, IKONA VENEZIA and Marina Bastianello, Venice
Viafarini Open Studio, VIR Viafarini-in-residence, a cura di Giulio Verago, Milan
Artkeys Prize, Castello Angioino – Aragonese, Agropoli
See you tomorrow, curated by a.topos, Palazzo Donà Brusa, Venice
Lasciare il segno, Galleria 28, curated by Mariella Filippi, Luino
Chaos/Kosmos, Santa Maria in Campitelli, curated by Paulina Grubiak, Rome
Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize, curated by Donato Faruolo, Genzano di Lucania
Premio Cramum, Villa Mirabello, curated by Sabino Maria Frassà, Milan
Premio Fregellae. La piccola scultura, Torre Medievale, curated by Ilaria Monti, Ceprano
Miscellanea, curated by Galleria Vittoria, Roma Smistamento, Rome
Chaos/ Cosmos, curated by Paulina Grubiak, Galeria Elektor, Warsaw, Poland

2020
Scultura Fregellae Award, Parco archeologico di Fregellae, Ceprano
Air Land 3.0 INSIDE LAND, associazione Quasi Quadro, Barge
Arts in Rome Award, galleria Spazio Cima, Rome
#DomaniInArte, Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale, promoted by Assessorato alla Crescita culturale - Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, Rome
Weir Gabbioneta award, Museo Studio Francesco Messina, Milan, curated by Angela Madesani

2019
Artrooms Awards, curated by Cristina Antonini Cellini, Le Dame Art Gallery, London
Localities, SeeMeOn gallery, curated by World of Co, Sofia
Natura naturans, curated by Valeria Guglielmi, Cortemilia, Cuneo
On Stage Project, curated by Roberta Melasecca, Espronceda Center for Art and Culture, Barcelona
GIFA, Fiera Internazionale della Fonderia, curated by Amafond, Düsseldorf, Germany
Rospigliosi Art Prize, Visibile Invisibile, 2nd edition, Palazzo Rospigliosi, Zagarolo, Rome

2018
Premio Vittorio Viviani, Libera Accademia di Pittura Vittorio Viviani, Nova Milanese
Comel Vanna Migliorin Award, curated by Gabriella Mazzola, Galleria Spazio Comel Arte Contemporanea, Latina
Combat Award, 9a edizione, curated by Paolo Batoni, Villa del Presidente, Livorno

2017
Mixed pickles, curated by Susanne Greinke, Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Dresda

2016
Elettricamente, Museo della Tecnica Elettrica, Pavia

2015
L’invisibile si mostra, Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia di Milano, curated by Marco Meneguzzo

AWARDS

2025
Scultura Gabbioneta, X edition

2024
IMMAGINA Award, Gruppo MAG SpA
Vincitrice di Note ai margini - visioni sottolineature e riflessioni sul paesaggio, curated by Associazione Luminanda, public sculptur for Tremezzina

2023
Arcipelago Award 7th edition

2022
Weir Gabbioneta for Sculptur
Arte Laguna Prize 16
MArtelive Award

2021
We Art Open Award

2020
Arts in Rome Award
Fregellae Award

2019
Rospigliosi Prize
PRS Talent Prize

2018
Premio Comel 2018

RESIDENCIES

2025
Situ Festival, project by A.P.S. Zona Blu, Ficarra
Da Quassù. Residenza d’artista sul Monte Stivo. art direction In Habitat APS, Comune di Arco
Tenuta Rasocolmo, curated by Mariateresa Zagone, Messina

2024
Nahr, Fuoco: Rinnovamento, rituali, potere. A cura di Gabi Scardi, Sottochiesa, Val Taleggio, Bergamo
Villa Greppi, progetto Residenze d’artista bimestrale, sostenuto dal Consorzio Brianteo Villa Greppi, Villa di Monticello, Brianza

2022
Extrartis: Artists Residencies for Creative Economy, at Relais Villa La Rupe, Sorrento
Fonderia Artistica Versiliese, Lucca
Domus Artist Residency_in residence, Galatina
Land Art al Furlo – Terra d’arte e di musica, curated by Casa degli Artisti, Sant’Anna del Furlo

2021-2022
VIR Viafarini-in-residence, curated by Giulio Verago, Milan

2021
In-Edita 2, coordinated by Galerie Alberta Pane, IKONA VENEZIA and Marina Bastianello Gallery, Forte Marghera, Venice

2020
Siamo tessuto, trame connesse, exhibition film, 12 artists in dialogue with Valle dei Templi di Agrigento, curated by Rossana Danile.

2019
Art Residency program World of Co, Sofia
Visibile invisibile, curated by L’Avugì Eventi, Palazzo Rospigliosi, Zagarolo

2018
No More Half Season, mentor Valerio Marazzi, LUISS Hub, Milan