Born in Milan in 1961, Mimma Scarpini graduated from Universita` Internazionale dell’Arte in Florence with a Diploma in Conservation and Restoration of artworks. In 2003 she opened her private studio practice for Painting Conservation.
Her comprehensive knowledge of art techniques and art history through the centuries has been crucial in the development of her artistic practice spanning over 25 years. Understanding art materials and techniques not only helps her to create durable art works, but also allows her to knowingly and responsibly break rules and challenge conventions.
Her artistic practice predominantly center on painting, encompassing a diverse range of mediums such as oil and acrylics on canvas, watercolors, and mixed media on paper and recently three-dimensional paintings. Drawing inspiration from abstract traditions spanning from European to American she has developed her own artistic language.
She has also experimented with figurative work interpreting and transforming old master and classical work to convey her own message.
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Between a Rock and a Hard Place, American University, Paris. curated by Jonathan Shimony.
2014 Governor's Island Art fair
2012 In Black & White The Cornelia Street Café New York NY
Three and Five persons exhibition
2023, November, Bronx Five Folds : Harmonius convergence, Roeder Gallery, New York, NY a Five Person Exhibition curated by FiveMyles
2019 , November , Fever Songs, The BronxArtSpace, a three persons show curated by Hellen Hackl Fagan http://www.bronxartspace.com/2019
Group Exhibitions
2024 May 22nd 2024 Chinatown mix at LoyLuo Private Gallery.
2022 Synthetic Zero, BronxArtSpace, New York, NY curated by Mitsu Hadeishi
2022 Pages, Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ curated by Pam Cooper https://studiomontclair.org/september-2022-pages/
2020 Minifest, A miniature art festival , Theaterlab, New York, NY Curator: Orietta Crispino. https://www.theaterlabnyc.com/productions/
2012 BWAC, Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, Brooklyn NY Juried show Color!
2011 BWAC, Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, Brooklyn, NY Juried show Black and White!
2011 Missing Missed, The textile Art Center, Brooklyn NY Curator : Scott Henstrandt https://textileartscenter.wordpress.com/tag/missingmissed/
2007 TheExpo, JLA Studios, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
2004 The Dumbo Art festival, Gold Track a site specific Installation, Plymouth St, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY.
2003 AIR gallery 3rd Biennial
Collaborations
2013 Broken record by Jed Distler Installation design for a multi keyboard sound installation commissioned by Make Music New York, Cornelia Street New York, NYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkuvIRSfZlo
Mention and credit around minute 5:31 https://themmixdown.com/2013/06/26/broken-record-the-worlds-largest-electronic-keyboard-ensemble/
https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/06/24/arts/music/20130624.html
2012-1019 Set Design for Tools an opera by Jed Distler, libretto by Luigi Ballerini. Reading at Saint Mark’s Church, New York, October 2019https://stmarksbowery.org/events/2019/10/13/tools-jed-distler-and-company
Curatorial work
2012 The parallel world of Celia Cooke, Selected polaroids by Celia Cooke, The Cornelia Street cafe, New York, NY
Awards
2011 Best in Show with opera Scratched. Black&White Juried art show, BWAC Brooklyn, NY
Publications
2020 Maria Scarpini Artist and Set Designer, by Jessica Robinson, The Berkshire Fine Art, June 19, 2020 https://www.berkshirefinearts.com/06-19-2020_maria-scarpini-artist-and-set-designer.htm?fbclid=IwAR1Scw-EVqF_P000Geuakvbp4LkRF4qXPt8D8p2GiUWH8Lobms4np0nGj3w
2011 Missing Missed A fiber art Show, Exhibition Catalogue, BLURB
Writing and Translation
1999-2000 Considerazioni su scelte di ordine estetico nella pratica del restauro negli Stati Uniti. Progetto Restauro No 10. Il Prato Publisher, Padova, 1999
Translation On Humanism, Aesthetics and the Cleaning of Paintings by Gerry Hedley. Progetto Restauro Nos. 13, 14, 15. Il Prato Publisher, Padova, 2001
