The poetic detail of Laura Fantini’s still life paintings strongly elevates the mimesis and, through an extraordinary technique of control of color and shape, transforms the “invisible” to the “visible.” - Vera Maria Carminati 

Laura Fantini is a hyper-realistic award-winning artist who specializes in colored pencil still life. Her artwork isdefined by strong contrast values and highly theatrical compositions with dramatic lighting.

“My flowers, seeds, or leaves are more than mere objects.  Their tension, rigor and almost perfect visualization take shape on a symbolic background.  My artworks do not only represent the reality of the “still life objects” I paint, but also the unique and intimate interpretation of emotions, memories and human relationships”

She was born in Bologna, Italy and graduated from the Liceo Artistico and Academy of Fine Arts of her hometown. Now she lives and works between Bologna, Italy and Brooklyn, New York.

"The poetic detail of Laura Fantini’s still life paintings strongly elevates the mimesis and, through an extraordinary technique of control of color and shape, transforms the “invisible” to the “visible.” In her metaphysical flowers, ideal perfection is sharpened by a strong sense of transition where beauty and vanitas merge. The damaged stem, the leaf that curls up, the fold of the petal, they all are stabbed by unreal light, a gleam that turns shadows into abysses and reveals plateaus that are infinitely crossed by transparencies and nuances."

 -Vera Maria Carminati

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In 1985 Laura Fantini won the 1st Prize for the Premio Culturale Panta Rei, Bologna. Her first group show took place in Modena, Italy in 1992. Since then Ms. Fantini's art has exhibited nationally and internationally and has been widely published and documented. After graduating, she worked on commercial illustrations and taught workshops on colored pencil technique at the University Primo Levi in Bologna. In 2001 Ms. Fantini exhibited for the first time in the US in Soho, New York. In 2002, she was selected for “Premio Arte” promoted by Arte, a Mondadori’s publication. In 2003 Ms. Fantini was included into the group exhibition “Proposte” at the Galleria Forni in Bologna and had her first solo exhibition. From 2005 through 2009 Laura Fantini donated some of her paintings to the Fall Auction/Party to benefit the New York based non-profit organization Big Apple Greeter.

Since 2004 Ms. Fantini has started collaborating with Object Image Gallery in Brooklyn, New York. In 2008 she was selected by “Profilo d’Arte” - Banca Profilo among the most interesting emerging Italian artists and exhibited at the Museo della Permanente in Milan. Laura Fantini continues exhibiting in Italy and New York. She was awarded 1st Prize for the “First Annual Sylvia Glesmann Floral Exhibition” and won “Jane Peterson Memorial Award" at the Salmagundi Club in New York and received an Honorable Mention at Gallery 364 in Brooklyn in 2010. Ms. Fantini is a member of the Salmagundi Club in New York and the Colored Pencil Society of America.

To learn more about Laura Fantini please visit her website: www.LauraFantini.com