Studio Visit

The Studio Visit: Milena Sgambato

Meet Milena Sgambato, a Milan-based painter who graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera. Her artworks have been exhibited internationally and in renowned art galleries in Italy. Her paintings are born from meticulous research and are characterized by fluid shapes and colors.

Artemest meets Milena Sgambato in her studio to tell the concept behind her evocative artworks.

Three years after her graduation from Accademia delle Belle Arti di Brera, in 2011 Milena Sgambato was selected to participate in the 54° Venice Biennale with the Italian pavilion, representing the Campania region.

From that moment on, her works have been exhibited in many museums and contemporary art galleries, such as the Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Caserta, and the Costantini Art Gallery of Milan.

My painting, however, is free. The artwork can change shape and colors because everything is fluid and ephemeral and I try to connect with something bigger than me, that decides its way. I am only an intermediary and I let painting take its own path.

Milena Sgambato

Tell us about your creative journey.

Each of my works refers to deep research: I read psychology manuals and find inspiration from books, songs and movies. I like to collect as much material as possible about what I want to express; then, I take some photos and search for images on the web and draw many sketches. At the end of this long process, I paint. My painting, however, is free. The artwork can change shape and colors because everything is fluid and I try to connect with something bigger than me, that decides its way. I am only an intermediary and I let the painting take its own path.

What does it mean “art” in your expressive category?

Making art is like unveiling something hidden, translating invisible into visible, it is a life story that tells an emotion. For me, art refers to an ancestral archetype and makes me feel connected with the origin of the world. Painting is a natural gesture that only takes a little effort, a canvas and colors, while for other forms of art, you need more sophisticated technology. Being a painter is like carrying on an ancient message.

In an era of fast use, like ours, what characteristics must an artwork have to last over time?

To last over time, artwork must guard the seed of eternity, it must be original, a reflection of the artist himself. Art must be born from urgency, passion and a strong inner motivation and shake the minds of past and future generations. You should have the feeling that the artwork was done in the moment you look at it, even if it is 500 years old. It must keep the same freshness.