Today we’d like to introduce you to Pierangela Garau
Hi Pierangela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m an Italian artist, born and raised in Sardinia, a beautiful island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea.
Since I was a kid, inspired by the mysterious Sardinian culture and its thousand-year-old traditions, I’ve had a strong passion for colors and drawing.
It was inevitable that one day I was going to become an artist.
I graduated in Fine Arts from Brera Academy of Milan, where I consolidated my passion for oil and acrylic painting and developed a new one for photography.
Afterward, my graphic skills and interest in the design field led me to obtain a Master’s in Visual Design from the New Academy of Design of Verona and work for a few years in the textile design industry as a surface pattern designer.
When I moved to Minnesota three years ago with my husband Simone, I was thrilled to discover an amazing community of artists.
I wanted to be part of this community and I started looking for a space for my art, where I could work and show my paintings.
In March I found this space in the Northrup King Building – the beautiful studio 195 – in the Northeast Arts District, and my journey began.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My adjustment to Minnesota was long and challenging.
A new culture, different language, different habits and customs, different fiscal laws.
When I decided to open my small business the path was to work hard, understand what I had to do legally, and then make myself and my culture known, sharing who I am and what I do.
Luckily I found very friendly people who helped me in this process and my husband supports me in this journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I’m working on a big project about the traditional Sardinian Carnival, “ The Masks series”.
I have always been fascinated by the traditional masks and ancient pagan rituals from my culture and I decided to study their characteristics and meanings.
In 2019 I visited the “Mamumask”, an international festival of Masks in Mamoiada, a region in the heart of Sardinia, and that inspired me for this project.
My interest in the masks is an opportunity to study the origin of the ancestral need, for why men wear a mask to become another thing, something different, a magical and divine entity.
I work mostly in acrylic or oil on canvas, but I also use watercolors or pencils on paper to realize my artwork.
Another strong passion is surface pattern design for diverse surfaces such as fabric, wallpaper, or ceramics. I can start a pattern from a botanical watercolor or create the design digitally with my Wacom tablet.
How do you think about luck?
I think I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to move to the United States, but honestly, I have worked and am still working hard to fulfill myself as an artist and small business owner.
I am very grateful for having achieved some of my goals and try every day to do the best I can for my family and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nemaa.org/artists/piera-angela-garau/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierangelagarau/?hl=it
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pierangela.Garau.Creative.Studio/
- Other: https://pierangelagarau.com/
