Marina Sagona is an Italian and American artist working in a variety of media whose practice explores the concept of control and addiction.
In Rome she was assistent to postmodern artist Mario Schifano and studied Art History at the University La Sapienza. In New York she started her career drawing for The New Yorker and the New York Times.
Marina Sagona is the recipient of the 2017 Strategic 50 Award, the 2019 Domus Artist Residency in Galatina, Italy and the 2021 Chiquita Gallery Residency in Barcelona, Spain.
In 2022 she was awarded the Cadence Video Poetry Festival Prize for her film Stabat Mater.
In 2014 she co-curated the exhibition “Dante Ferretti: Design and Construction for the Cinema” at MoMA.
From 2006 to 2008 she directed the contemporary department of Fiac (Foundation for Italian Art and Culture).
In 2008 she collaborated with Alanna Heiss on the exhibition Senso Unico at MoMA PS1.
→ Select solo exhibitions include:
2022
COUSCOUS
Official selection
London Rocks Film Festival, London (upcoming)
2022
Stabat Mater
Official selection
London Rocks Film Festival, London (upcoming)
2022
The Comedy of Women
Texts by Colum McCann, Martino Marzzi, Judith Thurman, Sophie Gee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nicole Krauss, Carol Muske-Dukes, Alice Sebold, Leslie Jamison, Claire Messud, Anna Funder.
Le Conversazioni/Book presentation
Villa San Michele, Anacapri (upcoming)
2022
Stabat Mater
Official selection
Cadence Video Poetry Film Festival, Seattle (upcoming)
2021
COUSCOUS
Essay by Kosme de Barañano
Food performance by Oreste Sagona
Chiquita Room Gallery/Loop Festival, Barcelona
COUSCOUS
Official selection
Prague International Indie Film Festival, Prague
The Comedy of Women
Texts by Colum McCann, Martino Marzzi, Judith Thurman, Sophie Gee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nicole Krauss, Carol Muske-Dukes, Alice Sebold, Leslie Jamison, Claire Messud, Anna Funder.
Book presentation with Antonio Monda and Tiziana Lo Porto
Palazzo Doria Pamphili, Rome
The Comedy of Women
Texts by Colum McCann, Martino Marazzi, Judith Thurman, Sophie Gee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nicole Krauss, Carol Muske-Dukes, Alice Sebold, Leslie Jamison, Claire Messud, Anna Funder.
Book presentation with Martino Marazzi and Sebastiana Nobili
Ravenna Festival, Cervia
Ubi Consistam
Essay by Kosme de Barañano
Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Madrid
Ubi Consistam
Essay by Kosme de Barañano
Chiquita Room Gallery, Barcelona
2020
Self-Portrait
Curated by Laura Gonzales Palacio
Loop Festival/Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Barcelona
Self-Portrait
Curated by Elena Salza
Palazzo della Cultura, Galatina
Self-Portrait
Curated by Giorgio De Finis
MACRO Museum, Rome
La Prigioniera/The Prisoner
Essay by Claire Messud
Fondaco Gallery, Rome
2017
Eden
Ierimonti Gallery, New York
2016
Eden
La Nuova Pesa Gallery, Rome
2016
The Comedy of Women
Essay by Colum McCann
Ierimonti Gallery, New York
2012
Less and More
Curated by Paola Quintavalle
Generation Gallery, New York
2011
Amour Fou
Essays by Olga Gambari and Mario Desiati
Tricromia Gallery, Rome
2009
Coincidence
Curated by Olga Gambari
41artecontemporanea, Turin
2008
At Home
Curated by Lea Mattarella and Nicoletta Leonardi
Marte Gallery, Rome
2007
Punti Fermi
Curated by Lea Mattarella
Le Nuvole Gallery, Palermo
1999
Marina Sagona
Curated by Paola Vassalli
Teatro Valle, Roma
→ Select group exhibitions include:
2021
Dreamers
2020
#chezmaddalena
2019
Red and Reds
2019
L’infinito Presente: 29 Poeti e 29 Artisti per il Bicentenario de l’Infinito di Leopardi
2018
L’infinito Presente: 29 Poeti e 29 Artisti per il Bicentenario de l’Infinito di Leopardi
2017
Trame d’Autore—47 Years 1 Month 3 Days: Pizzi Cannella, Nagasawa, Pietrosanti, Sagona, Salvatori, Kounellis
2015
Premio Fabbri Quinta Edizione
Dreamers
Curated by Maurita Cardone and Laura Mega
Urban spaces around NYC, New York
2020
#chezmaddalena
Curated by Romina De Novellis
179 Rue Saint-Maur, Paris
2019
Red and Reds
Curated by Maurizio Pellegrin
The Hub Center for the Arts, New York
2019
L’infinito Presente: 29 Poeti e 29 Artisti per il Bicentenario de l’Infinito di Leopardi
Curated by Simona Marchini and Arnaldo Colasanti
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Rome
2018
L’infinito Presente: 29 Poeti e 29 Artisti per il Bicentenario de l’Infinito di Leopardi
Curated by Simona Marchini
WeGil, Rome
2017
Trame d’Autore—47 Years 1 Month 3 Days: Pizzi Cannella, Nagasawa, Pietrosanti, Sagona, Salvatori, Kounellis
Curated by Simona Marchini
Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome
2015
Premio Fabbri Quinta Edizione
Curated by Lea Mattarella
Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, Bologna
2011
La Recherche
2009
Lungara 18
2009
Le parole per dirlo: Gregorio Botta, Denis Pondruel, Sylvie Romieu, Marina Sagona
2007Bratislava Biennial
2000
Videotrip 01
Teatro Vascello, Rome
2000
I Live Here
La Recherche
Curated by Michele von Buren
RvB Arts, Rome
2009
Lungara 18
Curated by Lucianella Cafagna
Stanze Segrete, Rome
2009
Le parole per dirlo: Gregorio Botta, Denis Pondruel, Sylvie Romieu, Marina Sagona
Curated by Lea Mattarella
Marte Gallery, Rome
2007
Bratislava Biennial
Curated by Barbara Brathová
Slovak National Theatre, Bratislava
2000
Videotrip 01
Curated by Caudio Di Biagio
Teatro Vascello, Rome
2000
I Live Here
Curated by Owen Phillips
California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco
→ Select books include:
2021The Comedy of Women
2021Ubi Consistam
2013My Inner Witch
2011Amour Fou
The Comedy of Women
Texts by Colum McCann, Martino Marazzi, Judith Thurman, Sophie Gee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Carol Muske-Dukes, Nicole Krauss, Alice Sebold, Leslie Jamison, Claire Messud, Anna Funder
published by Longo Editore in collaboration with Ravenna Festival
2021
Ubi Consistam
Text by Kosme de Barañano
published by Chiquita Ediciones
2013
My Inner Witch
Text by Giovanna Calvino
published by Mondadori
2011
Amour Fou
Texts by Mario Desiati, Olga Gambari
published by Italic Arte
2010 Frida Kahlo
2008At Home
Frida Kahlo
Text by Vanna Cercenà
published by Einaudi
2008