About me!
Ciao,
My name is Manuela, and I’m a mixed media artist originally from Italy, now based in San Mateo, California.
My biggest source of inspiration is, without a doubt, Mother Nature. I love to mimic the natural stone patterns in my geodes, to capture the fleeting beauty of flowers in my paintings, and to reproduce the changing colors of the sea in my aerial ocean landscapes. In my landscape-inspired work, I aim to reflect not only the physical beauty of nature but also its emotional resonance—how it makes us feel, reflect, and reconnect.
The poetry of my art is inclusion.
Art, for me, has always been a bridge—between people, places, and even pieces of myself. Through every layer I pour onto the canvas—resin, ink, crystal, color—I’m not just painting landscapes; I’m building spaces where everyone can feel welcome. Nature doesn’t discriminate. Its beauty is for all of us, equally. The ocean doesn’t ask who we are before letting us stand at the shore.
I believe that art, like nature, has the power to hold space for all kinds of stories. That’s why I create with intention—not just to reflect what’s outside us, but to connect with what’s within us. Whether someone sees strength in the stone-like patterns of my geodes, calm in my oceans, or joy reflected in a burst of flowers, I want them to feel that this moment—this emotion—is theirs, too.
Inclusion, to me, means inviting others into my world and being open to theirs. It means celebrating the many ways we see and feel. My hope is that when people stand in front of my work, they don’t feel like spectators—they feel seen, they feel like they belong.
Although I grew up surrounded by creativity in my father’s sculpture studio and always dreamed of following in his footsteps, I initially chose a different path, studying political science and starting a traditional career. As an Italian who moved to the US eleven years ago, I understand deeply how challenging it is for artists in Italy, where it’s often necessary to juggle second or third jobs just to support your passion.
Nearly twenty-five years later, almost by chance, I started creating handmade pieces again—and to my surprise, people found me. I was deeply moved by how strongly they connected with my work.
Within a year, I was able to rent a studio, and art became my full-time profession. In addition to working with private collectors, I’ve participated in several group exhibitions and also held my first solo show. Since then, I’ve never looked back.
Most of my paintings are created on commission, and for the past three years, I’ve worked almost exclusively on commissioned pieces. I’m proud to have collectors throughout the United States—including Colorado, Ohio, North Carolina, and of course, right here in Silicon Valley.
Here, in US, I found the freedom and support to pursue my artistic dreams and to share my passion with a diverse, vibrant community. In my personal journey, America has truly been the “land of opportunity.” I could not have been a full-time artist in Italy, but I’ve been able to build that life here. In many ways, I feel like I am living the American dream—a dream shaped by creativity, inclusion, and the transformative power of art.
Art is my therapy, my joy, my cure, it has always been this way all my life.
My ultimate goal is to spread happiness one artwork at a time .
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