"As a visual artist, I explore perspectives on my personal thoughts about our earthly experience and its complexity. Amidst the challenges inherent to this evolutionary opportunity, I examine how people mark their passage, what they bring to their spirit, and what they provide to those around them. I mainly investigate faces and expressions, nuances, and depths, mimicking the tortuous path of evolution."
Read a Q&A with Isabella D’Elia
Talk to us about your work featured here. What are the main themes and ideas you explore in it?
I selected different works, but I would like to bring attention to Nashiste Series that is a word that appeared to me in a dream and the term has many applications, and is used in different languages ​​and contexts, but generally means something like "seat" or "attitude". Thus, it was interpreted here as the awakening of an attitude. Take the place you came to occupy in this existence and others; the one that belongs to you.
This series brings together 4 gen that, regardless of time or space, occupy their place and express themselves as they are, with all their essence and light. The masks present in each work were designed, printed on fabric and sewn by me.
Describe your creative process.
So I really need to connect with the object of the study I'm going to develop. It is fundamental to me that this connection exists, because all the elements of the work will flow from it. So, sometimes I need to do research or have a conversation about it. I need to know its story in the most profound way possible, so I can dive into it and really feel its aura and energy. All begins at that point.
And like any person or subject, it all comes in layers. My art is constructed layer by layer, each one bringing more complexity as all the things and human beings are. Nothing is black and white. We have a lot of gray areas and I try to dive into those so I can show the uniqueness of the person or idea I'm portraying. I feel that it is finished when there is nothing to be added or taken off.
What are the main influences and inspirations behind your art?

I've been drawing since I was a little girl with the guidance of my mother, also an artist who graduated in fine arts. Her love for portraits because of her deep interest in people, cultures and places really got me. Later, during my graduation in Industrial Design / Visual Communication, I explored different ways of expressing myself through design, drawing and photography, including digital media.
Today I explore perspectives on my personal reflections about our earthly experience and its complexity. Amid the challenges inherent to this evolutionary opportunity, how people mark their passage, what they bring to their spirit and what they provide to the people around them.
What do you consider the strongest aspect of your work?
My work does not exist without people and its uniqueness. I need to connect to my surroundings to create, to be touched and influenced by those living this existence on Earth now or previously. And it is incredible how much I gain from doing my work, because the more I connect with the spirits I represent through my art, the more clear and enlightened my path seems.
Right now, I am really inspired by women, and considering that in 2023 the world population exceeded 8 billion people, imagine how many stories there are to be told. How many great voices are scattered on this Earth that could empower and inspire us to our better selves. My work is centered in human evolution and for me there is no more important issue than that. And I believe that we can all benefit from knowing those voices.
What message or emotion do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
Through my work I really hope that people can reflect about their spirit and energy. There are many things that we don't see as a material object but exist and influence everything on a daily basis. I invite everyone to look inside to find their light and use that better version for their own benefit and to help and enlighten others. The world needs us to be better. And how much happiness all of us can experience finally achieving that so wanted inner peace. We are all unique, and that's really the key to everything. Only accepting and getting in touch with who I really am is that I'm being able to work on my shadows to find my light, and I invite all people to do the same. To look at those around us and see that, just as we are, they are struggling with a lot of pain, fear and doubt.
What is the biggest challenge for an artist? What is the hardest part of this job?
The artist's mind usually doesn't fit this world. So, it is inevitable to struggle between the immense will to create everyday, and the need to do the things that this material plane we live demands. The artist is always creating. When sleeping, eating, walking. Always. It can be exhausting and energizing at the same time, but we can't avoid it, it's like breathing. And the need to have an income even when we haven't got yet any recognition turns everything even harder.
What is the most rewarding part of being an artist?
Finally getting to express my soul. I believe that the artist doesn't need anyone to see their art to be satisfied. The feeling of satisfaction that I get every work finished, when only I saw it is the most wonderful thing. And immediately, when I finish one, I want to get into another. I could go on in this circle forever, not revealing anything that I produce.
How do you balance tradition and innovation in your practice?
I was born in the 80's so I learned the techniques of making art from scratch. I don't master all the techniques there are (of course), but I got in touch with a lot of them and I delved deeper into the ones that made the most sense to me.
Later, during my graduation in the 2000's, I was able to experience the revolution of computers and the internet, so I had the opportunity to develop my skills on digital media too. Today, I feel free to use the tools that all these years gave me, and I choose the ones that better help me materialize what I want.
What does "good art" mean to you? What makes a piece of art great?
For me, I need to be touched in some way by the art. It could be because of its beauty, technique or the way it challenges you to rethink things. There are so many wonderful artists in this world. It is a shame that so few get to be known.
What is the role of the artist today?
To make the world better, and I believe that it can be done in many ways. By making us question things and ourselves, or by spreading beauty. There are many ways to make art and I believe the ones who can make it channel things bigger than we can understand. That's not totally clear to me yet how, but I believe that through us it can be channeled such energy, such power to get into the minds and hearts of people that being able to do that is incredibly special.