Maria Cristina Conti was born in Florence, in 1964. Right from childhood, she was able to get close to works by masters such as Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael and was inspired by them, sharpening their artistic sensibility. Her studies at the Leonardo School of Art in Prato allowed her to master the techniques and skills necessary to begin an artistic journey which, starting from pure figuration, pursues constant research and experimentation with colour.
Her artistic debut dates back to the 1980s when her production covered mainly drawings and oil paintings. In the mid-80s, she began holding solo and group exhibitions and received art awards at national level. In the 90s, her study of colour led Maria Cristina Conti to work with mixed media, closely related to research carried out by the artist towards a style of painting that, through the emotion of colour, can tap into the deeper and sublime dimension of the human soul: spirituality.
In Germany, the artist discovered the works of Kandinsky, remaining fascinated by his power of expression, and while in Paris, she came into contact with the emotional force of Monet. In Italy, her spiritual master was Antonio Corpora and it was from this experience that the need to translate her inner feelings through painting was born; paintings which move the heart with or without references to the concrete.
In recent years, her exhibitions “Unlimited”, “Outer Limits”, “Aninformale” have been displayed in various parts of Italy and abroad. In 2003, Maria Cristina Conti was included in the book “History of Visual Arts in Prato of the late twentieth century” by F. Riccomini thus, consecrating her in the contemporary art scene. At the same time, the art critic Thomas Paloscia acting as chairman, appointed her as an associate to the old “Antica Compagnia del Paiolo” which is an old Florentine cultural reality, founded around 1512 and whose past associates include Andrea del Sarto, Filippo Lippi and other great artists as well as leading International names in art and culture. In 2004 and 2005, she was selected by the committee of critics of the Catalogue of Modern Art published by Giorgio Mondadori, Milan.
In the last few years, the artist’s works have been presented in permanent collections and museums. In 2007, Maria Cristina Conti was one of the ten leading female art in the book “The Spirit of Matter” published by Mondadori and edited by Paolo Levi. The prestigious publication accompanied a series of exhibitions, with works included the same publication, in several Italian cities. In the same year, the city of Prato organized a solo exhibition of the artist in its medieval spaces of “Cassero”- the castle keep within the ancient city walls.
Recently, the artist received the “Venice Biennale 2007 Bridge of Sighs” award which was presented by the art critic, Giorgio Falossi and by the Culture and Museums of the Province of Venice’s chief, Nicola Funari. In 2008, she received the International Award “Artiste de Montmartre” in Cannes. In 2010, the International Painting Prize “City of New York” and the exhibition “Italian Artists”, Word Fine Art Gallery New York. Maria Cristina Conti works exclusively with the San Giorgio Arte Investments and her artistic activity in Italy and abroad is documented on video and in art catalogues.
