Anna Minardo

 

Born into a family of celebrated artists, Anna’s creative journey began early. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome (1966), La Sapienza University (1968), and McGill University’s School of Architecture in Montreal (1971). Her fascination with human expression and classical painting techniques began in childhood, leading to early commissions and her first exhibition at age 17 in Rome.

A meticulous observer, Anna believed a portrait was only complete when it could “speak back to her.” After moving to North America in 1968, she worked with top architectural firms and, in 1970, became the first woman to serve as chief designer and technical supervisor at San-Vel Concrete Corporation in Boston.

Her experience in design and architecture naturally evolved into creating large-scale public artworks, where she sees no boundary between art and architecture. In 1992, she received an ISS Training Fellowship to lead a mosaic workshop in Australia, aiming to uplift the craft and its architectural application.

Since 1997, Anna has completed numerous public commissions in Australia. In 2000, the Vatican commissioned her to paint Pope John Paul II, now part of its permanent collection. Her works are held in collections across Europe, North America, Australia, and Dubai. She was a finalist in the Archibald Prize in 2008 and 2009, the latter featuring a portrait of Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, now displayed at the Victorian College of the Arts.