Claudia Zanaga

Born in Padua in 1993, Claudia Zanaga is emerging as one of the most promising voices of contemporary European sculpture. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and later awarded a Master's Degree in Sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara in 2021, she has developed a body of work deeply rooted in the tradition of stone carving while addressing some of the most pressing questions of our contemporary world.

Based in Carrara, one of the historic centers of sculptural practice, Claudia Zanaga has established an intimate relationship with stone that extends far beyond technical mastery. Marble, alabaster, and other mineral materials become vehicles for reflections on the human condition, the transformations of living beings, and the ongoing evolution of society. Her work is grounded in a dialogue with matter itself, embracing both its physical presence and its capacity to embody symbolic and narrative dimensions.

At the heart of Zanaga's artistic research lie themes such as identity, migration, metamorphosis, and belonging. Her sculptures often evoke enigmatic presences situated between reality and imagination. Through poetic and timeless forms, she explores the challenges and uncertainties of a generation confronted with environmental, cultural, and social transformations. Her work invites viewers to reflect on the relationships that connect human beings to one another, to nature, and to the broader living world.

Anthropological inquiry plays a central role in her practice. Currently pursuing studies in Cultural Anthropology at Ca' Foscari University in Venice, Zanaga enriches her artistic research through an in-depth exploration of collective memory, cultural transmission, and societal change. This intellectual foundation informs works that transcend representation and become spaces for contemplation, dialogue, and reflection.

A distinctive aspect of her work is its engagement with notions of transformation and the post-human condition. Her sculptures frequently suggest processes of adaptation, mutation, and renewal. Rather than illustrating these ideas directly, she creates evocative visual narratives in which fragility and resilience coexist. Through these forms, she reflects on humanity's capacity to evolve and reinvent itself in response to changing environments and new realities.

Over the past years, Claudia Zanaga has built an increasingly international career through participation in numerous sculpture symposiums, artist residencies, and exhibitions across Europe and beyond. Her work has been presented in France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, Turkey, Egypt, Luxembourg, and Italy. These experiences have contributed to a practice shaped by travel, cultural exchange, and encounters with diverse communities and landscapes.

Recognized early in her career through awards and competitions dedicated to sculpture, Zanaga continues to pursue an ambitious artistic path that combines technical excellence with conceptual depth. Her mastery of direct carving reveals a profound understanding of stone, while the sensitivity of her formal language allows her to address universal themes with remarkable subtlety and emotional resonance.

Through her sculptures, Claudia Zanaga invites viewers to slow down, observe, and reconsider their relationship with time, memory, and the living world. Her work stands at the intersection of the great Italian sculptural tradition and contemporary concerns, demonstrating how sculpture remains a powerful medium for exploring the complexities of our present and imagining possible futures.

Presented by Galerie Bouillon d'Art in Bordeaux, Claudia Zanaga represents a new generation of artists for whom sculpture remains a territory of exploration, poetry, and reflection on the future of humanity.