De Paola’s multidisciplinary body of work explores specific archaeological spaces in Salento, where she was born and raised, in relation to her personal and contemporary experience of those. When thoroughly studying archival material about such locations, the artist yearns to become more knowledgeable and aware of her own origins. These sites, such as the Grotta dei Cervi that is central to De Paola’s research, metamorphose as she installs sculptural elements altering the natural landscape. The artist is interested in restoring a harmonious and empathetic connection with these places that bear witness to myths, folklore, to centuries of interactions with generations of residents or passerby.

- Paola Shiamtani

Commercial portfolio only upon request

Education
2018/2022 - MA in Photography, Brera Academy, Milan, IT
August/February 2016 - BA in New Media, Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, NL
2014/2017 - BA in Art and Media, Brera Academy, Milan, IT

Solo Exhibitions
2023 – ITACA, double solo exhibition with Lorenzo D'Alba, curated by Angelica Lucia Raho – Uggiano la Chiesa, IT
2020 – Finis Terrae, curated by Emma Zanella – Museo MA*GA, Gallarate, IT

Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 – ImageNation New York, One Art Space, New York, USA
2023 – OMNEFEST 2023 / IN NATURA by Osservatorio Mobile Nord Est, Museo Casa Giorgione, Castelfranco Veneto, IT
2023 – "Questa è la mia terra", XV Festival di Fotografia a Capri, Certosa di San Giacomo, Capri, IT
2023 – Combat Prize, Museo Civico Fattori, Livorno, IT
2023 – Parla del Tuo Villaggio #3, KORA Contemporary Arts Center, Castrignano de' Greci, IT
2023 – ImageNation Paris / Just Women Collective, Galerie Joseph Le Palais, Paris, FR
2022 – ReA! Art Fair, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, IT
2022 – “Where my feet stand”, Liquida Photo Festival, ARTiglieria Contemporary Art Center, Turin, IT
2022 – Insight Foto Festival / Confine, Sala Veratti, Varese, IT
2021 – "DOMANI – Aspettative, previsioni e desideri per l'epoca post pandemica", progetto BreraBicocca, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Milan, IT
2021 – TRACCIATI - AIR NON RESERVED ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Officine Creative Non Riservato & Cascina Biblioteca, Milan, IT
2021 – I am not sure (Will I ever be?), Spacca Studio, Milan, IT
2021 – FRESH EYES 2021, Rotterdam Photobook Market, NL
2021 – Maratona di Visione – 3º Rassegna Online di Videoarte, curated by Alberto Ceresoli. Represented by Spazio Volta/selected by Edoardo De Cobelli, IT
2021 – PROGETTO SPAZIO VOLTA OPEN CINEMA, Spazio Volta, Bergamo, IT
2020 – BRAERAKLASSE#5 – IPER Interno Esterno, Careof / Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, IT
2019 – Riccardo Prina Prize, Un racconto fotografico, Ghiggini Gallery, Varese, IT
2019 – Riccardo Prina Prize, Un racconto fotografico, La Triennale di Milano, Milan, IT
2019 – "Che riguarda la fotografia", Centrale Festival, Rocca Malatestiana, Fano, IT
2019 – "Tutti i verbi all'infinito", curated by Apuliart and Cava, Museo Diocesano, Lecce, IT
2017 – (RE)GENERATION, curated by Apuliart, Prima Gallery, Lecce, IT
2016 – Ubik Gallery, curated by Mint Collective, Rotterdam, NL

Artist Residencies and Masterclasses
2022 – REREADING THE ARCHIVE – curated by Saul Marcadent, in collaboration with Compulsive Archive, ICA Milano
2022 – DEFAULT22 Masterclass – Ramdom and Presidenza del Consiglio Regionale della Puglia, KORA Centro del Contemporaneo, Castrignano de’ Greci
2021 – "In Nature" - workshop with Mark Steinmetz and Irina Rozovsky by Transizioni / OMNNE, Lecce
2021 – TRACCIATI - AIR Non Reserved Artist in Residence by Non Riservato and Cascina Biblioteca, Milan
2021 – "Nuove modalità operative per la fotografia", workshop with Paolo Woods – Riverboom
2021 – "Il fotolibro nel panorama dell'editoria indipendente", workshop with Tommaso Parrillo – Witty Books
2021 – "Editoria come Curatela - Publishing as Curating", workshop with Elisa Medde – FOAM Magazine
2020 – Canon Student Development Programme - Visa Pour l'Image
2019 – BoCs Art - Art residence Curated by Giacinto di Pietrantonio, Cosenza

Awards & nominations
2023 – "Questa è la mia terra" by Fondazione Capri (winner, Single Shot)
2023 – Combat Prize (finalist)
2021 – "Reunion Calling" by PhEST, selected by Phmuseum
2021 – 150 Greatest Emerging Photography Talent in Europe by FRESH EYES - Powered by GUP Magazine
2019 – Riccardo Prina Prize (winner)

Catalogs and Paper
2023 – Combat Prize, Sillabe (ISBN 9788833403793)
2022 – ReA! Art Fair III Edition (ISBN 9788894571424)
2022 – Liquida Photo Festival, powered by Paratissima
2021 – FRESH EYES - Powered by GUP Magazine (ISBN 9789083106212)
2021 – Ombra Magazine Issue n.2
2020 – Yogurt Magazine - BAD TASTE flavour. Issue published by Yogurt Editions (ISSN 27240657)
2020 – Encourage – Canon Student Development Programme 2020. Curated by Luca Rocco and Camilla Ferrari, published by Postcart (ISBN 9788831363174)

Online publications

Juliet Magazine
Jugaad Magazine
Walk In Studio – Il laboratorio dimensionale di Stefano Cavaliero
Ombra Magazine
D.A.R.E. Magazine
Assembramento by Invertebre
Artwave
Vulcano Statale
Apuliart
Rullino Rebels
4actionsport
Boardaction