Monica Vaccari
Curated by Cyril Kazis,
Thessy Schoenholzer Nichols
and Bernhard Duss
Vernissage
22. March 17:00 – 20:00
Exhibition:
23.-28. March 14:00 – 19:00
29. March 14:00 – 16:00
Finissage:
30. March 14:00 – 18:00
gres e ossido di manganese, 2020
Portrait by Elisa Mantovani, invict/us magazin, London, 2025
“I’m a woman who gives life to herself.”
– Adrienne Rich
Monica Vaccari’s art is a journey—an intimate exploration of creation, protection, and rebirth. On the occasion of her 60th birthday, this retrospective exhibition traces the evolution of her artistry, from her early Dutch period to the present, revealing a recurring and profound theme: Motherhood in its many forms.
Through her sculptures and ceramics, Vaccari captures the essence of the mother not only as a nurturer but as a warrior, a protector, and a force intertwined with nature itself. Works such as Mother, Motherhood, and Rebirth embody the emotional depth of maternity, while pieces like Warrior and Body & Soul reflect the strength and resilience ingrained in both feminine and masculine energies. She draws from ancient archetypes, evoking figures like Mater Matuta, roman goddess, guardian of women and fertility, as well as the eternal presence of Mother Nature (Pillar of Nature, Roots & Hope).
e smalti, 2024
The materiality of Vaccari’s work is as significant as its themes. Her hands press lace and delicate patterns into clay, leaving intricate impressions that become indelible marks of history, memory, and identity (Protection, Imprinting). This technique transforms each piece into a tactile narrative, where the past and present coexist—stories of vulnerability and resilience embedded into the medium itself.
e smalti, 2023
One of the most striking aspects of her practice is the recurring motif of the emerging face, a theme that began during her time in Brussels with Ophelia. Inspired by Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, these faces seem to rise from the depths, speaking for women who have been silenced by history, oppression, and societal constraints. Yet, in their emergence, there is hope—an assertion of identity, a breaking free. Her series Warriors embodies this spirit of silent resistance, where strength is found in serenity rather than aggression.
Vaccari’s work is both deeply personal and universally resonant. As she reflects on her journey, her sculptures remind us that motherhood is more than a role—it is a continuous act of becoming. Just as clay is shaped, fired, and transformed, so too is the mother, the woman, the artist—constantly evolving, always in dialogue with life’s unfolding narrative.