Gianna Dispenza, Lara Stafilopati, Rafael Uriegas
Baraka Art Space is pleased to launch the third and final exhibition of the 2023 exhibition program, entitled “Baraka Ab ovo”, commissioned to curator Faidra Vasileiadou to design three different exhibitions for this summer in Spetses.
The third exhibition entitled “Chapter Three: Inception” hosts three artists, Gianna Dispenza, Lara Stafilopati and Rafael Uriegas. With different references and determinants, the artists converse with each other through painting and sculptural gestures, as they connect with various materials through a poetic mediation.
In the same theme as the conceptual unit of this year’s Baraka Art Space program, that of birth and re-emergence, the third exhibition “Chapter Three: Inception” concludes at the beginning of the original idea: an innovative beginning through the exchange of ideas and opinions within the power of contemporary art.
After living in Athens and Spetses for some months, Gianna Dispenza (US) and Rafael Uriegas (MX) created new artworks and developed their current practice.
The presented pieces are in conversation with the third artist, Lara Stafilopati (GR), who also presents new productions. More specifically, an abstract dialogue is developed that focuses on the influence and encouragement created between artists in the different mediums and spectrums of their practice.
Dispenza presents sculptures in stainless steel, bronze and aluminum that converse with the body and femininity. Despite such solid materials, she has managed to convey in a lyrical way corporeality and eroticism through intense sculptural gestures. Uriegas impresses with his colorful painting forms, which speak directly to the curvature of the exhibition’s works. On different canvas sizes, he captures the influences of the abstract forms he creates through his rich color palette. Finally, Stafilopati with sculptures and a painting unites all the forms of the exhibition, as a connecting link of the multiple means of production and presentation. She herself captures the unfolding of the form found in the works and thus embraces the whole theme of this exhibition.
Above all, the ultimate goal of the last exhibition of the 2023 exhibition program, entitled “Baraka Ab ovo” is the creation of relationships and dialogue in an international network, which, however, takes place in the pivotal location of Spetses.
Lara Stafylopati studied Fine Arts at Boston University and Massachusetts College of Art. She went on to study Shipping in London (Shipping Trade and Transport, London Metropolitan University).
She has exhibited her work in Greece and abroad. She lives and works in Athens.
Gianna Dispenza's artistic practice is rooted in emotion, fueled by a tangible curiosity that explores archetypes ranging from bathers at water's edge to Herculean athletes. Her work delves into how these recurring tropes weave through art, literature, and society, dynamically adapting their meanings over time. Dispenza doesn't merely replicate symbols of the past; instead, she employs archetypes to directly engage with the evolving values of the present. Her artistic freedom is evident in the diverse materials she incorporates, often sourced from everyday life: travel remnants, newspaper clippings, abandoned objects, all interwoven with natural elements like clay, charcoal, and earth. This amalgamation reflects Dispenza's connectedness to her practice and a commitment to authenticity. Gianna Dispenza earned her BFA in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2014 and completed her MA in painting at the Royal College of Art in 2020. Her work has been showcased internationally, spanning the USA, UK, Italy, France, South Korea, and Lebanon, including prestigious institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum. Currently residing and working in London, Dispenza continues to captivate audiences with her emotionally charged and archetypal explorations.
Gianna Dispenza's artistic practice is rooted in emotion, fueled by a tangible curiosity that explores archetypes ranging from bathers at water's edge to Herculean athletes. Her work delves into how these recurring tropes weave through art, literature, and society, dynamically adapting their meanings over time. Dispenza doesn't merely replicate symbols of the past; instead, she employs archetypes to directly engage with the evolving values of the present. Her artistic freedom is evident in the diverse materials she incorporates, often sourced from everyday life: travel remnants, newspaper clippings, abandoned objects, all interwoven with natural elements like clay, charcoal, and earth. This amalgamation reflects Dispenza's connectedness to her practice and a commitment to authenticity. Gianna Dispenza earned her BFA in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2014 and completed her MA in painting at the Royal College of Art in 2020. Her work has been showcased internationally, spanning the USA, UK, Italy, France, South Korea, and Lebanon, including prestigious institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum. Currently residing and working in London, Dispenza continues to captivate audiences with her emotionally charged and archetypal explorations.
Visiting hours
Every day except Tuesday, 20:00 - 01:00
