Isabella Monari @ Rome Art Week

Isabella Monari

Isabella Monari research focuses on the subject of HUMAN INTERACTIONS, PLAY and SPORT. The protagonists of her paintings are always the interactions among individuals, often described in an ironic way.

Data and contact details

Isabella Monari

was born in Bologna and is currently living and working in Rome. Her research focuses on the subject of HUMAN INTERACTIONS, PLAY and SPORT.

She studied foreign languages and attended the "Free school of nude" at the Academy of Fine Arts. She has a degree in Political Sciences specializing in Sociology. Her academic backgroundhas been instrumental to her exhamination and portrayal of society and human relations.

Her art reflects a unique ability to capture the state of mind of her subjects in social context and evokes a blend of energy and enthusiasm.

The protagonists of her artworks are the interactions among individuals, often described in an ironic way, highlighting their vices and oddities; other times they are described in an almost dreamy way, in an atmosphere of suspended time.

The theme of sport,one of the recurring.is actually a pretext to talk about what’s happening today and,in the light of the values it teaches,contrast the prevailing individualism

In her work her aim is not the aesthetic, but the creation of a relaxing atmosphere, making extensive use of warm nues and vibrant colors that evoke and array of positive emotions.

Oil on wood is one of the technique she prrefers. Wood is a material that lends itself to become an integral part of the background and characters, effortlessly creating and natural harmony

Public collections

Collection of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Club, Rome
National Art Museum of Sport, Indianapolis USA
San Salvatore in Lauro Museums, Rome
CONI ( Italian National Olympic Committee), Rome
Modigliani Picture Gallery, Follonica
Youth International Exchanges office, Bologna Cityhall

Selected Solo Exhibitions

Rome, L’Acquario Gallery, May 2003
Follonica, Modigliani Picture Gallery, December 2003
Rome, Paolo Antonacci Gallery, June 2004
Bologna, Gnaccarini Gallery, November 2005
Rome, The Foreign Affairs Ministry Club, May 2006
Rome, Spazio sette Interior Design , December 2010
Rome, The Foreign Affairs Ministry Club, June 2013
Rome, Emperor Domitian Stadium, Women in Art Week, March 2015
Rome, Sallustiana 27 Gallery, May 2015
Roma Women in Art, Elsa Morante Culture Promotion Center, July 2016
Laguna Beach USA Forest & Ocean Gallery, September 2016
Rome, San Salvatore in Lauro Museums, May 2019
Spoleto, 62nd Festival of Two Worlds, June 2019
Padova, Arte Padova, novembre 2021
Venice, San Gregorio Gallery, april 2022

Dubai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah and Ayyam Gallery, april 2023
Singapore, YANG Gallery - event LIV Singapore, May 2024
Vittoriale degli Italiani, Gardone Riviera, June-September 2025

Art Public Exhibits

Bologna, ARTE FIERA 2008
56th Venice Biennal, collateral exhibit Global Village, 2015
Indio, CA - USA, SWAF art fair , 2016
Padova, ARTE PADOVA 2021

Exhibitions in conferences and sports awards

“Sport as Art of Masters”, LUMSA University, Rome , November 2009
“Art in the Olympics, yesterday and today”, the SCHOOL of SPORT, Italian Olympic Committee, Rome, October 2016
Polo Audi International Cup 2006 , Rome Polo Club
Sailing Tour of Italy 2006, Roma Yacht Club
Rome Horse Racing Award 2006, Capannelle Racecourse
Fencing International Cup 2008, 4^th Ravagnan Trophy , Turin ( Creation of the Work of art used as 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prize)
Tennis International Cup 2008, 8^th APT Award, Turin
Polo Opening 2016, Empire Polo Club. Indio CA- USA
LIV Golf Singapore tournament, Singapore

Art Auctions

CHRISTIE’ S Auction. Contemporary Art for marginalized , Rome, 16 July 2019. Painting "Playing in the blue".
CHRISTIE’ S Auction. 160th Anniversary of the Vittoriale, House of the Italians, Gardone Riviera, June 2023. Painting “Grand Prix”.

International fine art prizes

Indianapolis USA - 2nd Prize "Commitment to Excellence in Art and Sport" - National Museum of Art and Sport (2014)

Institutional Presences

Beijing, Olimpic Games 2008, Italian Pavillon
Vancouver, Winter Olimpic Games 2010, Italian Pavillon
London, Olimpic Games 2012, Italian Pavillon
Indianapolis USA, National Art Museum of Sport, 2014

Publications

BOOKS

Montepaolo nella storia (2000)
Fantafiabe, Einaudi Ragazzi Editions (2002)
Italian Olympic spirit, signs communication from west to east (2008), Turin University Editions
Bologna, City Guide (2008), Bologna City
Commemorative volume for the 70^th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Club, Gangemi Editions(2009)
Sport in Art, Turin University National Editions (2009)
Football: an Italian educational way to the culture of sport, Levrotto & Bella Editions
Tradition and innovation, the Italian Olympic spirit in London (2012)
Urbis et Artis, Art and Culture (2014)
Italien 2e année, Hachette Education, Paris (2014)
Images of sport, culture of sport, Italian National Olympic Academy (2016)
Vittorio Cini, l’ultimo Doge al Vittoriale, Il Cigno GG Editions, (2023)

CATALOGUES

"Isabella Monari”, Modigliani Picture Gallery (2003). Editor: Parnaso Library . Curator: Gregorio Rossi. Project: Roberto Sabatelli-Museum Director
“Les jeux sont faits” (2006) Editor: Multimedia Artel. Curator: Massimo Gazzè Riccardi. Presentation: Ambassador Umberto Vattani
“ Sunny days ” (2015) Editor: Millennium. Curator: Professor Egidio Maria Eleuteri
“ Relazioni in gioco ” (2019) Editor: Il Cigno GG. Curator: Caterina Napoleone

COVER

“ Boys match on the beach” . Cover image for the book “Teaching to train”, published by the Italian National Olimpic Commitee to commemorate the School of Sport’s 50^th anniversary (2016)
“Friends beyond the walls”. Cover image for the book “Free inside ,changing is possible even in jail”, Infinito Editions, (2019)
“ I choose life” . Cover image for the Conference of the Supreme Court of Justice “Violence and gender discrimination: words and rights” (2023)

Some articles where published in the following newspapers and magazines

Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera, Il Tempo, Il Giornale, Libero, Italia Sera, Il Corriere Laziale, Leggo, Il Resto del Carlino.

Other experiences

Public speaker at the Congress “ Art in the Olympics”. Title of the speech : “The artist view” . Giulio Onesti Center for Olympic Training, Rome, October 2016

President of the Jury at the competition “ The universal language of sport”, Rome October 2016

Events at Rome Art Week

25 Oct 2025 | 10:00-14:00

Isabella Monari

Special invitation I'm glad to open the doors of my studio to share with you a moment dedicated to art and creativity During these 4 hours you will be able to visit my creative space, discover my work and have a chat with me about it
Free access

Organizer Isabella Monari

Open Studio

Studio Isabella Monari

Via Andrea Doria, 64