essential biography
Maria Cristina Carlini began to work with ceramics in Palo Alto, California, and approached the New Ceramics artistic movement; after that she expressed herself using different materials, such as stoneware, iron, corten steel and wood. Her artistic career includes solo and group exhibitions in various public and private international venues and her works are on permanent display in important cities of Europe, America and Asia. On the occasion of Expo 2015 the monumental sculpture La nuova città che sale, presented by Philippe Daverio, is permanently installed at Fiera Milano Rho (Italy). Several exhibitions followed, including in Paris in 2019, inside the Beffroi in Place du Louvre; the personal exhibition of 2020, curated by Chiara Gatti, at the Studio Museo Francesco Messina, former church of San Sisto, in Milan and in 2022 the exhibition curated by Vittoria Coen at the Stelline Foundation in Milan. In 2024 the monumental work Obelisco will be permanently placed in Piazza Berlinguer in Milan.
She has received several awards and numerous books have described Maria Cristina Carlini’s intense artistic activity including publishing houses Mudima, Skira and Silvana Editoriale.
Renowned critics have written about her work, among them:Paolo Campiglio, Luciano Caramel, Claudio Cerritelli, Guo Xiao Chuan, Vittoria Coen, Martina Corgnati, Philippe Daverio, Gillo Dorfles, Carlo Franza, Maria Fratelli, Chiara Gatti, Flaminio Gualdoni, Yakouba Konaté, Frédérique Malaval, Paolo Levi, Laurence Pauliac, Elena Pontiggia, Cortney Stell.
| Exhibitions | |
| 2024 | Milan, donation of the "Obelisco" sculpture permanently placed in Berlinguer Square and exhibition at Spazio Seicentro - Sala Arianna, cultural headquarters of City Hall 6 |
| 2023 | Milan, Studio Maria Cristina Carlini. On the occasion of the 19th Day of the Contemporary promoted by AMACI - Association of Italian Contemporary Art Museums, open studio with video and meeting with the artist |
| 2022 | Milan, Superstudio Più – Superdesign Show, the sculpture “Foresta” is exhibited on the occasion of MILANO DESIGN WEEK |
| Genoa, Santa Maria di Castello, collective GENOVA DESIGN WEEK 2022, CALEIDOSCOPIO, curated by Fortunato D’Amico and Chiara Ferella Falda | |
| Milan, Fondazione Stelline, solo exhibitionMaria Cristina Carlini. La forza delle idee, curated by Vittoria Coen | |
| Milan, Nuova Galleria Morone, collective ORO&BLU, curated by Vittoria Coen | |
| 2021 | Milan, Open Studio for the Seventeenth Contemporary Day promoted by AMACI |
| Milan, Bookcity Event at Studio Museo Francesco Messina, Maria Cristina Carlini. Storia di una scultrice. Monograph and Storyville docufilm preview | |
| Florence, Fortezza da Basso, XIII Florence Binnale, invited to exhibit in the Cavaniglia Pavilion curated by Fortunato D’amico entitled "ETERNAL FEMININE | ETERNAL CHANGE. Concepts of Femininity in Contemporary Art and Design | |
| Verona, ArtVerona fair, Nuova Galleria Morone | |
| Milan, Nuova Galleria Morone, Hypothesis collective - Act I, curated by Diego Viapiana | |
| 2020 | AMACI, online event, publication of never before seen works and videos on Maria Cristina Carlini's social media, on the occasion of the 16th Giornata del Contemporaneo promoted by Associazione Musei d'Arte Contemporanea Italiani |
| Milan, Il Salotto di Milano, solo exhibition Maria Cristina Carlini. Ritorno alle origini curated by Francesca Bellola | |
| Oria (Brindisi), Masseria Palombara, group exhibition Arte che incontra l’Arte: scultura, pittura, fotografia in masseria curated by Diego Viapiana | |
| Milan, Studio Museo Francesco Messina, solo exhibition Maria Cristina Carlini. Geologie, memorie della terra curated by Chiara Gatti, from a project by Raffaella Resch | |
| 3D virtual exhibition, Maria Cristina Carlini. Alfabeto materico. Sculture a parete, opere su carta e video curated by Matteo Pacini - Galleria Artespressione | |
| 2019 | Milan, Studio Maria Cristina Carlini, meetings with Brera Academy students |
| Milan, Artespressione, solo exhibition Concepire nella materia. Opere scelte di Maria Cristina Carlini / Conceiving in the matter. Selected works by Maria Cristina Carlini, curated by Matteo Pacini | |
| Portofino, Museo del Parco di Portofino, Centro Internazionale di Scultura all’Aperto, the sculpture Impronte becomes part of the Museum’s permanent collection | |
| Parma, Ponte Romano, the work La Chiusa. Omaggio a Leonardo is exhibited on the occasion of the 4th edition of PARMA 360 Festival della creatività contemporanea, curated by Camilla Mineo and Chiara Canali | |
| Fiera Milano Rho, Made in Steel Awards 2019, three works of the series “Alberi” are chosen as artist prizes for the winners of the Made in Steel Awards | |
| Paris, Beffroi - Place du Louvre, Maria Cristina Carlini. Origine, curated by Carla Arigoni | |
| 2017 | Bologna, ex Church of San Mattia, group exhibition Sequela, curated by Leonardo Regano, in conjunction with Arte Fiera |
| 2016 | Milan, MyOwnGallery - Superstudio Più, Purposes of place curated by Flaminio Gualdoni |
| Milan, Superstudio Più, the monumental work Obelisco and the sculptures Libri are exhibited on the occasion of the Salone del Mobile - Milan Design Week | |
| 2015 | Valladolid, Spain, Palacio de Pimentel, group exhibition Teresa de Ávila - mística y transgresora |
| Berlin, Germany, Inselgalerie Berlin, group exhibition Teresa de Ávila - mística y transgresora | |
| Milan, Parco dell’Arte at Idroscalo, on the occasion of the EXPO the monumental sculpture Vento, 4 meters tall and made of corten steel and salvaged wood, is permanently exhibited at the entrance East | |
| 2014 | Fiera Milano Rho, South Gate, the monumental sculpture La nuova città che sale/The new rising city, 10m tall and made of corten steel and wood, presented at the Triennale by Philippe Daverio for EXPO 2015, it is permanently located |
| Milan, Italy, Plaumann Art Gallery, group exhibition | |
| Zagreb, Croatia, Italian Cultural Institute, solo exhibition curated by Martina Corgnati | |
| Strasbourg, France, Italian Cultural Institute, solo exhibition curated by Martina Corgnati | |
| Cologne, Germany, Italian Cultural Institute, solo exhibition curated by Martina Corgnati | |
| 2013 | Milan, Italy, Spazio Tadini, group exhibition, Coreografia d’Arte/Art Choreography 2013 |
| Milan, Italy, Gallerie d’Italia - piazza della Scala, she takes part in the group exhibition Wunderkammer. Arte, Natura, Meraviglia ieri e oggi/Wunderkammer. Art, Nature, Wonder yesterday and today curated by Lavinia Galli and Martina Mazzotta | |
| Padua, Italy, Ex-Macello, group exhibition Futuro Anteriore. Le Arti della Ceramica/Future perfect - The art of ceramics curated by Mara Ruzza | |
| Varese, Italy, Villa Recalcati, the work Bosco is permanently positioned in the park | |
| Royal Castle of Govone (Cuneo), Italy, anthological exhibition Maria Cristina Carlini. Fare secondo Natura/Do according to Nature curated by Martina Corgnati | |
| Hong Kong, she takes part in the Link Art Fair Hong Kong, a concurrent event with Art Basel - Hong Kong and exhibited at the Italian Consulate General in Hong Kong | |
| Milan, Italy, Bocconi University, solo exhibition | |
| 2012 | Milan, Italy, Fondazione Mudima and Fondazione Stelline, solo exhibition curated by Flaminio Gualdoni |
| Paris, France, Artcurial, AD Interiors 2012 fair | |
| Varese, Italy, Villa Recalcati, head office of the Province of Varese, solo exhibition on the occasion of the show Scultori a Villa Recalcati/Sculptors at Villa Recalcati curated by Flaminio Gualdoni | |
| Milan, Italy, Gruppo Sole 24ORE, AAM fair, she takes part in the 4th edition | |
| 2011 | Rome, Italy, Archivio della Scuola Romana, group exhibition Lo scultore, la terra. Artisti e ricerche 1920-2011/The sculptor, the earth. Artists and researches 1920-2011 curated by Flaminio Gualdoni and Netta Vespignani |
| Rongcheng - Shandong, China, the work Fortezza II/Strength II is permanently installed | |
| Miami, U.S.A., Corpus Christi Catholic Church, the monumental work Icaro/Icarus opens the new Sculpture Park and is permanently positioned | |
| Milan, Italy, Ex-Ansaldo, Merci Beaucoup!, project by Superstudio Più for Fuori Salone 2011 | |
| Milan, Italy, Gruppo Sole 24ORE, AAM fair, special guest of the 3rd edition | |
| 2010 | Miami, U.S.A., Sculpt Miami Fair, Art Basel Miami Beach collateral event, monumental sculptures exhibition. La Vittoria di Samotracia/The Victory of Samothrace is permanently positioned at Miami Dade College |
| Shanghai, China, People’s Square, the monumental sculptures Fortezza II/Strength II and Legami II/Links II are exhibited in conjunction with the World Expo 2010. Later, the work Legami II/Links II is permanently exhibited in the Sculpture Park | |
| Beijing, China, IV Art Biennial, NAMOC, National Art Museum of China, the work Danzatrici/The Dancers becomes a part of the permanent collection | |
| Tianjin, China, (twinned with Lombardy) the monumental sculpture Letteratura II/Literature II is permanently positioned | |
| Jinan, China, Shandong University of Art and Design, solo exhibition, the work Legami III/Links III is permanently exhibited | |
| Castello di Racconigi (Cuneo), Italy, International Sculpture Biennial at Racconigi 2010, group exhibition curated by Luciano Caramel | |
| Denver, U.S.A., Auraria and Rocky Mountain College of Art+Design, the two works Madre/Mother and Out & Inside are permanently exhibited | |
| Beijing, China, Forbidden City, solo exhibition Colloquio tra giganti/Conversation amongst giants | |
| Beijing, China, Italian Embassy, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China the monumental work Viandanti/Wanderers is permanently located | |
| Reggio Calabria, Italy, Aragonese Castle, solo exhibition; on the Lungomare Falcomatà the sculpture Monumento al Mediterraneo/Monument to the Mediterranean is in permanent exhibition | |
| 2009 | Venice, Italy, Guggenheim Collection, presentation of the monograph Maria Cristina Carlini curated by Yakouba Konaté |
| Madrid, Spain, Italian Cultural Institute, solo exhibition curated by Gillo Dorfles | |
| Madrid, Spain, monumental sculptures hosted in Calle Mayor, Paseo de la Castellana, Calle de Juan Bravo, Plaza Alfredo Mahou. The exhibition is curated by Gillo Dorfles | |
| Loreto, Italy, Cantine del Bramante, solo exhibition curated by Carlo Franza; the sculpture Pellegrini/Pilgrims is permanently located in the Porta Marina Gardens | |
| Paris, France, Mairie du V arrondissement, Place du Panthéon, Place de la Sorbonne, Rue Soufflot and Boulevard Saint Michel, monumental sculptures exhibition Sculptures dans la ville curated by Luciano Caramel | |
| 2008 | Cosenza, Italy, National Library, solo exhibition; La Vittoria di Samotracia/ The Victory of Samothrace is permanently inaugurated at the Piazza dei Valdesi |
| Milan, Italy, Fiera Milano Rho, the sculpture La Città che sale/ The City Rises is permanently located | |
| Milan, Italy, State Archives - Palazzo del Senato, solo exhibition curated by Gillo Dorfles | |
| Prague, Czech Republic, Italian Cultural Institute, anthological exhibition curated by Carlo Franza | |
| Prague, Czech Republic, National Theater, set design | |
| 2007 | Milan, Italy, Court of Auditors, La porta della giustizia/ The Door of Justice is permanently installed |
| Spoleto, Italy, Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna, group exhibition Stemperando | |
| 2006 | Rome, Italy, EUR, Central Archive of the State, solo exhibition Terre/Lands, curated by Carlo Franza |
| Brescia, Galleria delle Battaglie, solo exhibition Sculture, opere su carta e libri d’artista, curated by Claudio Cerritelli | |
| 2005 | Stra (Venice), Italy, National Museum of Villa Pisani, solo exhibition Reperti curated by Carlo Franza |
| Turin, Italy, Complex of the Royal Palace, solo exhibition Stanze curated by Carlo Franza | |
| 2004 | Turin, Italy, Museum of Antiquities, group exhibition Nutrirsi con l’arte |
| Rome, Italy, Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, solo exhibition Tracce e Luoghi curated by Carlo Franza | |
| 2003 | Milan, Italy, Borgogna Gallery, solo exhibition, curated by Luciano Caramel |
| 1998 | Milan, Italy, Romeo Sozzi Gallery, solo exhibition |
| 1992 | Parigi, France, Grand Palais, presented by Elena Pontiggia, she takes part in the group exhibition Découvertes ’92 |
| 1991 | Milan, Bottega dei vasai, group exhibition |
| 1990 | Laveno (Varese), Italy, Civics Collection of Cerro, solo exhibition with a text by Elena Pontiggia |
| 1989 | Reggio Emilia, Italy, Museum of Reggio Emilia, group exhibition |
| Bologna, ArteFiera takes part in the Ceramics fair | |
| 1986 | Bruxelles, Belgium, Le Rencontre Gallery, solo exhibition |
| 1984 | Oakland, U.S.A., solo exhibition |
| 1983 | Rocca di Angera (Varese), Italy, solo exhibition |
Maria Cristina Carlini sculptures are permanently on display on three continents: Europe-Italy (Rome, Milan, Cosenza, Loreto, Reggio Calabria, Varese), America (Denver, Miami) and Asia (Beijing, Shanghai, Jinan, Rongcheng - Shandong, Tianjin). |
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| 2024 | Milan, Italy, Piazza Berlinguer, Obelisco |
| 2019 | Portofino, Museo del Parco di Portofino, Centro Internazionale di Scultura all’Aperto, Impronte |
| 2015 | Milan, Italy, Parco dell’Arte at Idroscalo, Vento/Wind |
| 2014 | Milan, Italy, Fiera Milano Rho, South Gate, La nuova città che sale/The new rising city |
| 2013 | Varese, Italy, Villa Recalcati, Bosco/Wood |
| 2011 | Miami, U.S.A., Corpus Christi Catholic Church - Sculpture Park, Icaro/Icarus |
| Rongcheng - Shandong, China, Fortezza II/Strength II | |
| Miami, U.S.A., Dade College, La Vittoria di Samotracia/The Victory of Samothrace | |
| 2010 | Denver, U.S.A., Rocky Mountain College of Art+Design, Out & Inside |
| Denver, U.S.A., Auraria Campus, Madre/Mother | |
| Tianjin, China, Italian Institute of Culture, Letteratura II/Literature II | |
| Jinan, China, Shandong University of Art and Design, Legami III/Links III | |
| Shanghai, China, Sculpture Park, Legami II/Links II | |
| Beijing, China, NAMOC - National Art Museum of China, Danzatrici/The Dancers | |
| Beijing, China, Italian Embassy, Viandanti/Wanderers | |
| Reggio Calabria, Italy, Lungomare Italo Falcomatà, Monumento al Mediterraneo/ Monument to the Mediterranean | |
| 2009 | Loreto, Italy, Gardens of Porta Marina, Pellegrini/Pilgrims |
| 2008 | Cosenza, Italy, Piazza dei Valdesi, La Vittoria di Samotracia/The Victory of Samothrace |
| 2008 | Milan, Italy, Fiera Milano Rho, La città che sale/The City Rises |
| 2007 | Milan, Italy, Court of Auditors, La Porta della Giustizia/The Door of Justice |
| 2006 | Rome, Italy, State Archives, Fortezza/Strength |
| Prizes and honours | |
| 2011 | Milano, ‘Guest of honour’ at the 3rd edition of ‘AAM – Arte Accessibile Milano’, held at the headquarters of Gruppo 24ORE |
| 2010 | Beijing, First female contemporary sculptor to exhibit in the Forbidden City |
| 2010 | Milano, nomination by the Municipality of Milan as ‘representative of the city’ at Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, and at International Women’s Day 2010, Shanghai |
| 2010 | Jinan, honourable title of Guest Professor at Shandong University of Art and Design |
| 2009 | Rome, Premio Ignazio Silone per la Cultura [for a significant and innovative cultural contribution to the world of visual arts], 17th edition, Campidoglio |
| 2005 | Milan, Premio delle Arti, Premio della Cultura come Artista dell’anno, 17th edition, Circolo della Stampa |
| 2004 | Milan, Premio delle Arti, Premio della Cultura per la Scultura, 16th edition, Circolo della Stampa |
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