Annapia ANTONINI

Biography

Contemporary Swiss painter and graphic artist Annapia Antonini was born in Lugano in 1942. From an early age, she showed a marked interest in the visual arts, which led her to move to Paris in 1962, a city at the heart of the European artistic effervescence.

In Paris, she joined the Académie Julian, a prestigious institution that has trained many renowned artists. There she studied drawing under Mac Avoy, renowned for his expressive, gestural approach, and painting with Pierre Jérôme, whose teaching focused on technical rigour and mastery of colour. This dual training has enabled her to develop a style that combines sensitivity and precision.

Alongside her painting studies, Annapia Antonini was introduced to the art of engraving by Johnny Friedlaender, a master of modern printmaking. Under his tutelage, she explored the possibilities offered by engraving techniques, which considerably enriched her artistic palette and opened up new creative perspectives.

In 1964, she exhibited for the first time in Switzerland, marking the start of a promising career. Her works, both paintings and engravings, were quickly noticed for their finesse and depth. Over the years, she has taken part in numerous major exhibitions throughout Europe, as well as in Japan and the United States, consolidating her reputation on the international art scene.

Landscapes, interiors and still lifes are central to her work. Annapia Antonini is inspired by scenes from everyday life, which she transcends with an approach that is both realistic and poetic. Her meticulously precise etchings bring out the most subtle and intangible aspects of ordinary objects. In this way, she succeeds in revealing the hidden beauty of simple things, inviting viewers to take a fresh look at their surroundings.

Her work is characterised by a masterful use of light and texture, creating intimate, contemplative atmospheres. The delicacy of her compositions reflects a deep artistic sensitivity, testifying to her commitment to the quest for the essence of the subjects she tackles.