The surreal universe of
Francesca Dalla Benetta
STATEMENT
My work is characterized by mixed anatomies and forms. Human faces and bodies are combined with different textures, skins and elements, giving rise to hybrid beings
Through my aesthetics, in balance between the classic and the surreal, I study the themes of transformation, sense of belonging and self-perception, the ability to adapt, stereotypes and categorization. I look for the fine line that separates personal identity from social conventions, sanity from madness, studying the differences between perception and reality.
My figures are a look towards the interior and the lack of control, they are a way of containing the uncontainable.
The stories of each character, isolated in an intimate and unreal dimension, are reflections on the identity of misfits and the many facets of being.
As an artist, my most important task is to communicate and stimulate a different way of feeling and thinking. I mainly resort to sculpture because it is an affirmation of solidity in contrast to the volatility of thoughts and emotions: it consolidates and crystallizes them into a permanent and lasting image, it is a perfect tool to stop doubting reality and oneself.
BIOGRAPHY
Francesca Dalla Benetta, an Italian artist living in Mexico, conducted her studies at the Academy of Arts in Milan. Since 2004 she had been dedicated to the realization of special effects and sculpture for the movie industry, and thanks to this profession she learned modeling techniques that she begun to transpose into her personal work as an artist.
Francesca arrived in Mexico in 2006 with the production of the film Apocalypto by Mel Gibson, and she decided to stay for professional reasons. The surrealist influence of life in Mexico, together with the love for cinema and fantasy literature, determined her style and concept in a decisive way. Her work investigates the fantastic anatomy, dreams, self-identity, transformation and spiritual evolution, the sense of belonging, loneliness, the connection between human beings, with the cosmos and with the divine.
In her career, Francesca has 25 individual exhibitions (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de San Luis Potosí, Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey, Galeria Oscar Roman, Fundación Sebastian, Galeria de la Universidad Iberoamericana, Espacio y Lugar, Aguafuerte, Galeria Malaga etc) and numerous collectives (Galeria Corsica, Galeria Oscar Roman, Ex Teresa among others) and numerous collectives in Mexico and Italy. Her work has been reviewed in specialized art magazines (Horizontum, Scenario, La Razon, Milenio Diario, El universal, Distrito Global) as well as in numerous cultural programs on radio and television (Milenio TV, Channel 22, Channel Once, El Matutino TV, El financial TV among others).
Part of her career consists of dedicating herself to teaching plastic arts and characterization: for 9 years, she has been training new talents in the artistic and cinematographic field.
MY CREATIVE PROCESS
Clay is my favorite material. I love the feeling of working with my hands—it’s one of the most satisfying sensations I know. It helps me stay deeply connected to what I’m creating, in a very physical and emotional way.
I usually follow the same process for every piece, no matter how big or small. It all starts with an image in my mind. These ideas often come to me in unexpected moments—sometimes even in dreams. When that happens, I quickly sketch it on any piece of paper I can find, just to capture the idea. Then I put it aside.
After some time—sometimes a few hours, sometimes days or even months—I look at the sketch again. If it still excites me and makes me feel something, I begin to work on it more seriously. I do more detailed drawings and write down thoughts about what it means to me.
Then I move into the sculpting phase. I shape the full volume using a lightweight material called rigid polyurethane. On top of that, I apply clay. Often I use epoxy clay, which lets me skip the mold-making process. It dries in about an hour, so I have to be fast and focused. I really enjoy this part—the hard, messy work of bringing the idea to life. I use metal and wood tools to carve textures and small details with care.
Once the sculpture is done, I paint it. I use a mix of oil paints, acrylics, alcohol inks, and natural inks, depending on the effect I want. I apply the colors with brushes, airbrushes, or even by splattering them. I usually choose a dark, neutral color palette—it reminds me of nature and gives a quiet, introspective feeling to the piece.
When I work in bronze, the process is a bit different. After finishing the clay sculpture, I make a mold and cast the piece using the lost-wax technique. Watching fire turn wax into solid bronze feels like magic to me—it’s pure alchemy. One of my favorite steps is applying the patina, which I always do myself. I choose the colors carefully, but sometimes I also let chance guide me. That’s how some of my most interesting surfaces have come to life.
For me, each sculpture is a journey—from a sudden vision to a real, physical object filled with meaning and emotion.
MY STORY
I was born in Florence, Italy, in a hot summer day.
My childhood was filled with a grandmother that takes me around all the museums of the city and tells me all the wonderful stories of the life of great Renaissance artists. And when I’m not with grandma, I spent long afternoons drawing, painting or making small sculptures.
I was told that at the age of 4 years I made a series of portraits so impressively resembling to my entire family, that everybody pictured me as a future great famous artist.
Years later, when choosing high school, art school seems the most natural thing.
Unfortunately mom and dad do not agree. What kind of a job is to be an artist? You don’t want to starve doing portraits in the church square!
Then, having no choice, I attended five years of Science High School, followed by the University, the Faculty of Physics. I’ve got the best grades but I’m not happy at all.
Unexpectedly in the mid of my studies and against the wishes of the parents, I decide out of the blue to leave the university to try to enter the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, the secular Brera. The summer of 1999 begins my biggest and most challenging dream: studying art. So excited!
After four years, I graduated. With a trajectory of experimental research in the field of photography and video art, and no idea about my future, I started to fear my parents`prophecy… so I decide to get practical and devote myself to the world of cinema, specializing in set design and special make up.
I move to Rome in order to continue working in a special effects studio. A new adventure was beginning: I was lucky enough to work in is Black Dahlia of Brian De Palma as my very first project.
In 2006, the production of Apocalypto by Mel Gibson invited me to work in Mexico. Again, I picks up the ball and move to the other side of the world full of expectation. I was growing! I sharpened my skills as a sculptor working for several years in local film projects.
But the rebellion that made me stop Physics and the curiosity that leads me always to explore new things, made me once again change direction: I decide to dedicate myself to sculpture and in 2011 I had my first solo show in Mexico City, followed by many other exhibitions in international galleries and museums. Joy Joy Joy!
My work is now part of numerous private collections and has been reviewed by countless newspapers, trade magazines and television programs. Meanwhile I started teaching special effects and sculpture, finding another great love, education: I have a great art education system based on practical presencial classes and online course for who lives far away.
And, more excited every day of my adventurous journey, I go one step after the other towards new achievements!
P.D. in case you was wondering… my parents stopped picturing me doing portraits in the church square a few years ago… and me too!
CURRICULUM
EDUCATION
- 2003 Diploma Universitario en Artes Plásticas, Accademia di Brera, Milano, Italia. Graduación: 110/110 cum Laude. Tesis: Hipótesis del Cyborg como Híbrido contemporáneo
- 2004 Curso post Universidad: especialidad en escultura y efectos especiales, Cinelife, Milano.
- 2005 Tirocinio de 6 meses en el estudio Special Make Up Effect Studio Rocchetti & Sodano, Roma, Italia. Especialidad en escultura y modelado.
- 2024: Human Figure Intensive Course, Barcelona Academy of Art, Barcelona, España.
- 2024:Portrait INtensive Course, Cria (Centro de Residencia e Investigación Artística), Ensenada, México.
SOLO SHOWS
- El Rostro Oculto, Centro de las artes de Querétaro, México, 2025
- Habitar el umbral, Galería Aguafuerte, México City, 2025
- El Rostro Revelado, Museo metropolitano de Monterrey, México, 2024
- El Rostro Oculto, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo San Luis Potosí Mexico 2023-24
- Utopie, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2022
- Quimicas Acidas, Galería Aguafuerte, México City, 2022
- Metaforas del Ser, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2019
- Disfraces e Identidad, Galería Aguafuerte, México City, 2018
- La persona y el paisaje, dúo con Natasha Gray, Espacio y Lugar, México City 2017
- Anatomia del Sogno, Traeger&Pinto Arte Contemporaneo, México City 2015
- Sogni, memorie e fantasie, Casa de arte Malaga, México D.F. 2015
- Identitá transitorie (gira), Universidad Iberoamericana, México City 2015
- Identitá transitorie, Fundación Sebastian, México City 2014
- Ricordi dl sogno, FES, Cuautitlan Izcalli, México 2014
- Anatomias Oniricas, Parque de las esculturas, Cuautitlan Izcalli, México 2014
- Le petit théâtre, Taak, evento fusion arte y moda, México City 2013
- La Piel de las Flores, Morbido Film Festival, Patzcuaro, Michoacan, México 2013
- Memorie della vita di qualcun altro, Traeger y Pinto, México City 2013
- Corpo Brutto, Museum of Tampico, Tamaulipas, México Julio 2013
- Festival Marvin, camellon de Alvaro Obregon, Col Roma, México City 2013
- Santos, Brujas y Otros Animales, LaVampStore, México City 2012
- Bellissime sconfitte, Bellissime Conquiste, Galería Aguafuerte México City 2012
- Belleza no convencional, Galería José María Velasco, México City 2011
- Taller en vida, 75ocolor, México City 2011
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
- Tzompantli, Meam, barcelona, Spain
- Tzompantli, Universidad de Aveiro, Portugal, 2025
- Catarsis, Amplia Galeria, Mexico City, 2025
- Paralelas XVI, Galeria Oscar Roman, Mexico City, 2025
- Periferia, Galeria Aguafuerte, Mexico City, 2025
- Tzompantli, Amplia Galeria, Mexico City, 2025
- Imperfecta, Studio Loi, Oregon City, 2024
- Opening Galleria Andre Chisesi, Milano, Italia 2024
- Parma Art Fair, Galeria Materia Art, Italia 2024
- Paisajes, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2024
- Mujeres, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2024
- Paralelas XV, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2023
- Los espectros del corazon, galeria Helenica, México City, 2023
- Nude, Stoerpunkt Gallery, Munich, Germany, 2022
- Paralelas XIV, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2022
- Spring Forward, Revelation Gallery, New York City, 2021
- Apocryphu, Espaco Exibicionista, Lisboa, Portugal, 2021
- Disruptor, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2021
- Sororidad, Galeria Aguafuerte, Mexico 2021
- Mujeres: sus visiones, Galeria Aguafuerte, Mexico 2020
- Paralelas XIII, Galeria Oscar Roman, México City, 2020
- Corazon Latente, Emicíclo del Senado de la República, Art Cage Condesa, Mexico 2019
- Art collector, El momento de coleccionar arte, Art Cage Condesa, Mexico 2019
- De lo Masculino a lo femenino, Galeria Aguafuerte, Mexico 2019
- Noches de autor, Instituto italiano de cultura, 2019
- El Cuerpo, Galeria Oscar Roman, 2018
- Mundos Imaginarior, por Art Cage Condesa, Galeria Oscar Roman, 2018
- Paralelas Contemporáneas X, Galeria Oscar Roman, 2017
- Layered, Contemporary 33, Curated by Sergio Gomez, Zhou B Center, Chicago, 2017
- Transitio, Art Cage Condesa, México D.F. 2016
- Intersecciones, Galeria Curie, México D.F. 2016
- Una mirada al arte contemporaneo, Centro deportivo Israelita, México D.F. 2016
- Nudo Interior, Art Cage Condesa, México D.F. 2016
- Dia Mundial del Arte, Centro de México Contemporaneo, México D.F. 2016
- Con M de México y de Mujer, tribunal de Justicia Federal, México City 2015
- Habemus Art, Centro de México Contemporaneo, México City 2015
- Collettiva Estiva 2014, Pikidi Arte, Cremona, Italy 2014
- Who art you, Ex Fornace, Milan Italy 2014
- Animales impuros, Galería Aguafuerte México City 2014
- Aproximación del fin, CC186, Cultura Colectiva, México City 2013
- Biosintetizarte 2.0, Casa de la Ciencia, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México 2012
- Past Forward, Museum of Bassano del Grappa, Italy 2012
- Luxury Aesthetic, Neuroblasto Mag y La Villa Punk, México City 2012
- Surrealismo, White Spider, México D.F. 2012
- Doble Andante, El Palomar del Minoturo, México City 2012
- Sexy, Ex Teresa Arte Actual, México City 2012
- Invasión Arte Urbano, Centro Indy Rock, México City 2011
- Tzompantli, exhibición colectiva, Vértigo Gallería, México City 2011
- BIOsintetizARTE, Casa de la Ciencia, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México 2011
- Vitrinas, Galería José María Velasco, México City 2011
- Elucubraciones, Neuroblasto Magazine y galería La 77, México City 2011
- Sentimientos, Asociación Mexicana de Grabadores de Investigación Plástica, México City 2012
Winner of the “Contigo en la Distancia” Award, Fonca 2020
FAIRS
- Parma Art Fairs, Galeria Andrea Chisesi, Parma, Italia, 2025
- Bada Art Fair, 5th Edition, Mexico City, 2025
- Arte Capital Art Fair, 1st Edition, Mexico City, 2024
- Parma Art Fairs, Galeria Andrea Chisesi, Parma, Italia, 2024
- Bada Art Fair, 4th Edition, Mexico City, 2024
- Arte Capital Art Fair, 1st Edition, Mexico City, 2023
PRINTED PUBLICATIONS
Books
- In process, Mexican Women in Art, Edutorial Águeda, 2025
- In process: “El rostro oculto” About her solo exhibition, by the MAC of SLP, Mexico, 2025
- Covart Project”, published by Copelouzos Family Art Museum, Greece 2022
- 35x35 Project Italy, published by Copelouzos Family Art Museum, Greece 2021
Magazines
- RSVP, Excélsior, Mexico 2023
- Visual Art, Mexico, 2023
- Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Australia, 2022
- Biographies Mexico, October 2020
- The Artist Guide, Madrid, Spain, 2020
- Playboy, special art issue, Mexico December 2019
- Horizontum (Mexico) November 2019
- ACS Magazine (Chicago) May-June 2017
- No es Madrid no Madriz (Madrid, Spain) 2017
- Scenario (Mexico) 2017
- Chilango (Mexico) 2017
- El Cultural (Milenio Diario supplement) by Alicia Quiñones, Mexico, February 2017
- Flotante Arte, Mexico 2015
- Zocalo en la Cultura, Mexico 2015
- Justa, Mexico 2014
- Living Artroom, Mexico 2014
- Churn, United States, 2013
- Sabotage Magazine, Mexico 2013
- Rolling Stones, Mexico 2012
- La Razon, Mexico November 2011
- La Cronica, Mexico November 2011
- El Proceso, by curator Blanca Gonzales Rosas, Mexico November 2011
CONFERENCES
- The Hidden Face, Museum of Contemporary Art of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, 2024
- Creative Minds Congress 2023, Expo Reforma, Mexico City, 2023
- Women who inspire women, Excelsior, Hacienda Los Morales, 2023
- Conference for students of the Faculty of Design, Ahahuac University, 2022
- Conference for students of the Faculty of Arts, Ibero University, 2015
- CULTURAL TELEVISION PROGRAMS
- Francesca Dalla Benetta Sculptor, Dtodo, Canal Once, 2024
- Interview with Francesca Dalla Benetta, The Revealed Face, Channel 22, 2024
- Francesca Dalla Benetta, Itinerario, Canal Once, 2024
- Hacienda (es Patrimonio Cultural), Hacienda, 2023
- Interview with Francesca Dalla Benetta, Arte Vivo, Channel 14, 2020
- Interview with Francesca Dalla Benetta, El asalto a la razón, Carlos Marín, Milenio TV, 2019
- Interview with Francesca Dalla Benetta, Utopie, Channel 22, 2015
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
- SHCP Collection, Mexico
- Utopia of the Seas Collection, Caribbean Cruise
- San Luis Potosí Contemporary Art Museum Collection, Mexico
OTHER ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES
2009-Present: Professor of sculpture and characterization at FDB Taller de Arte
2009 - 2016: Professor of characterization and special effects at Idip, Institute of Image Design Professional
2011-Present Art courses at: Museum of Contemporary Art of San Luis Potosí, Museum of Contemporary Art of Matamoros, Tamaulipas - Tec de Monterrey (San Luis Potosí campus) - Institute of Professional Image Design Queretaro - Anáhuac Campus Sur Mexico City.
2003-2012: Participation as a freelance artist in the film industry, as a sculptor and makeup and special effects designer
PRESS
Escultura, creación y transformación
-Mario Bravo-Sunday, 13 Apr 2025 12:27
Antes de esta conversación, hace un lustro charlé con esta escultora italiana que, en aquel entonces, parecía estar en medio de una lucha interminable contra demonios internos, en contra también del mundo actual. Hoy, Francesca Dalla Benetta irradia equilibrio, como si la guerra hubiera concluido y el campo de batalla estuviese colmado de flores:
‒Me suavicé mucho. Hice las paces con mis raíces y la gente, en general. Mi obra hoy habla más de temáticas ligadas a la esperanza y también a la inocencia. Sigo con mis intereses: los rasgos de las personalidades humanas, de qué estamos hechos y cuáles son nuestras intenciones; pero ya no soy tan cínica. Me siento más tranquila incluso como persona. Las piezas hechas este año tienen más suavidad, los cuerpos no son tan estáticos. Esto es un reto técnico: realizar figuras más semejantes a las personales reales.
Francesca Dalla Benetta recrea monstruos y cuerpos infantiles
La escultora promueve su serie Los niños y sus amigos imaginarios y participa en la exposición Tzompantli en la Amplia Galería
Virginia Bautista|07 de enero de 2025 a las 05:50 hrs.
Historias de niños con disfraces, acompañados por sus monstruos, amigos imaginarios que simbolizan tanto maravillas como miedos. Esto recrean las 21 esculturas de bronce que integran la serie Los niños y sus amigos imaginarios, de la artista italiana Francesca Dalla Benetta.
La también pintora, que comenzó a crear la serie de los niños en 2018, arranca el año con la promoción de esta iniciativa y con la participación de dos piezas en la exposición Tzompantli, que se inaugurará este 9 de enero, a las 19:30 horas, en la Amplia Galería (Baja California 212, colonia Roma), espacio que abre sus puertas con esta muestra.
LA RELACIÓN ENTRE LA INOCENCIA Y LA VALENTÍA
La creadora, quien vive en México desde 2006, señala que a través de las obras sobre los infantes busca “explorar la relación entre la inocencia y la valentía con la que enfrentamos la vida. Para mí, estos niños son un recordatorio de que la paz puede empezar desde lo más simple: la curiosidad, la creatividad y la capacidad de ver belleza en los pequeños detalles”.
'El Rostro Revelado', de Francesca Dalla Benetta llega al Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey
César Cubero Monterrey, Nuevo León
La obra de Francesca Dalla Benetta llegó a Monterrey, al inaugurar el gobierno de este municipio la exposición “El Rostro Revelado”, de la artista de la Colección MILENIO Arte.
Una exposición de escultura que incluye una instalación de gran formato "Conexiones", compuesta por cien rostros acompañada por un video, bajo el nombre de "Soledad", así como trabajos en bronce, resina, resina y tintas, resina, tinta y mármol.
https://www.milenio.com/cultura/el-rostro-revelado-francesca-benetta-monterrey-exposicion-museo.
En entrevista para la plataforma MILENIO-Multimedios, la oriunda de Florencia, Italia, detalló que la psicología es un factor fundamental dentro de su narrativa creativa.
"Es una exposición escultórica compuesta de cuatro partes, la primera parte es una serie de esculturas que son parte de colecciones privadas donde examino mucho la psicología del ser humano, es uno de mis intereses personales, la psicología", comentó.
Dentro de su búsqueda, agregó, y tras vivir una serie de situaciones personales, llegó el tiempo de volver a conectar, de escuchar y contar historias a través del arte.
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Francesca Dalla Benetta is an Italian artist living in Mexico, she studied Plastic Arts at the Milan Academy of Arts. In his career, he has had 20 individual exhibitions, numerous group exhibitions and many other participations in specialty and outreach programs. Do you want to know more?
Francesca Dalla Benetta es una artista italiana residente en México, condujo sus estudios en Artes Plásticas en la Academia de Artes de Milán. En su trayectoria, cuenta con 20 exhibiciones individuales, numerosas colectivas y muchas otras participaciones en programas de especializados y de difusión. ¿Quieres saber más?