Simona Weller biography

Simona Weller, born on May 10, 1940, in Rome, is an Italian artist. Her life is a mosaic of cultural experiences, travels, and encounters that have shaped her unique artistic expression. After losing her father in 1948, Simona Weller began her educational journey at the Convitto Nazionale di Spoleto, where her artistic talent was encouraged by the drawing master Leoncillo Leonardi. This early influence is reflected in her decision to enroll at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, where she studied under the guidance of Ferruccio Ferrazzi, Mario Mafai, and Mino Maccari. Here, she honed her skills in the art of painting and engraving, preparing for her future artistic explorations."
Her first significant trip to Asia, funded by a UNESCO scholarship, marks a period of profound personal and artistic discovery. In Thailand in 1960/61, in Egypt in 1962/63, and in Spain in 1964, Simona Weller absorbs the local culture and art, an experience that will have a lasting impact on her art.
In 1961, she married Roberto Veller Fornasa, with whom she would have two children, David and Micol. The family chose to live in the tranquility of the Umbrian countryside, an environment that would greatly influence her artwork. During this period, her painting evolved, freeing itself from academic influences and the reminiscences of travels, to express an autonomous internal world. She is distinguished by the use of enamels and inks on precious papers, and by the representation of natural elements with a refined and poetic technique.
The return to Rome in the 1970s marks a period of personal and artistic transition. Having separated from her husband, she begins teaching art at the Accademia di Belle Arti and lives with the poet and critic Cesare Vivaldi. During this period, her art experiments with words and symbols, creating panels on a black background with colorful graffiti that explore her unconscious and her dreams.
His art receives significant recognition: he participates in the X Quadriennale di Roma in 1973 and the Venice Biennale in 1978. During this period, his artistic research focuses on painting-writing, a recurring theme in his works, as demonstrated in his collages and in the series "Letters from an Italian Painter to Vincent Van Gogh."
Simona Weller is not only an artist but also a prominent writer and art critic. She publishes influential essays and novels, including "Il Complesso di Michelangelo", and actively participates in feminist movements and international exhibitions. Her contribution to culture was recognized with the award of the title of Commendatore by the President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2006.
In 2009, his art is further recognized when he creates the official medal for the fifth year of Benedict XVI's pontificate. This work incorporates distinctive elements of his artistic research, combining religious and cultural symbols.
Simona Weller's life is also marked by painful personal events, including the death of her first husband Roberto in 1993 and that of Cesare Vivaldi in 1998. Nevertheless, she continues to devote herself to art and writing, leaving a lasting legacy in the art world.
Simona Weller remains an emblematic figure in Italian art, recognized for her ability to blend visual and textual elements into a deeply personal and innovative artistic expression. Her life and work reflect a journey of continuous exploration and renewal, making her a prominent artist in her field.