Maria Murgia (1935) - Sognando

Oil on canvas, size 60x50 cm, created by Maria Murgia in 1995, part of the cycle 'Towards Color'.

SALE PRICE IN GALLERY € 2,500.00
WORK ARCHIVED https://www.mariamurgia.it

BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
ORIGINS
Maria Murgia was born on July 14, 1935 in Ossi, near Sassari in Sardinia. She comes from a family with ancient Sardinian noble roots. Her father Salvatore was a wine producer, while her mother Gesuina, a dynamic, intelligent woman who embodies the deep Sardinian matriarchy, played an essential role in her cultural education and in life’s most important choices.
FIRST ENCOUNTERS
Still very young, at the Gallery “Il Cancello” in Sassari, Maria had the opportunity to meet the great master Aligi Sassu. Struck by her early works, he strongly encouraged her to pursue artistic studies. The encounter with Sassu would recur in the years: in 1989, in Thiesi, the maestro would visit one of her exhibitions and describe her with prophetic words as “the painter of color” and “artist of the year 2000.”
VIENESE YEARS
In 1957 she marries Giovanni Fancellu, also from Ossi, and moves to Venice. She lives there for ten years, immersing herself in the city’s artistic circles and frequented the studio of master Virgilio Guidi, an experience that profoundly influenced her creative path.
THE RETURN TO SARDINIA AND THE EARLY CAREER
After a period spent between Cagliari and the Maddalena island, during which she studied at the Istituto d’Arte of Sassari, in 1974 she settles permanently in La Spezia. She begins teaching in schools, as director of a kindergarten. Her first solo exhibition on November 8, 1975, at the “Studio 13” directed by Andrea Occhipinti. The curator of the show and the first art critic of Murgia was at the time Professor Nicola Rilli, important for his historical studies on the Etruscans and for a reinterpretative work of Pinocchio’s figure. A Murgia canvas is part of the Pinocchio-dedicated collection donated by Rilli to the town of Collodi.

SUCCESS AND IMPORTANT ENCOUNTERS
In the following years she exhibits with increasing success in Italy; the Sagittarius gallery in Terni is recalled, where in 1977 she meets Renato Guttuso, who is captivated by the strength and luminosity of her colors. She participates in major events such as the Festival of Spoleto and receives in Rome the prestigious Marc’Aurelio Prize ’77 from actress Silvana Pampanini. In the same period she exhibits a solo show at the Palazzo Pretorio in Sesto Fiorentino and meets master Pietro Annigoni.
THE COSTA SMERALDA PERIOD
In 1979 she begins collaboration with art dealer Franco Cardilicchia, who introduces her to the prestigious Florence International Art Gallery. In 1981 she opens the “Studio d’Arte Maria Murgia” in Porto Cervo, active until the early 1990s. Thus she becomes the painter of the Costa Smeralda: her works enter the collections of important personalities and she is invited several times as guest of honor by Prince Aga Khan to the events of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. In 1983 she is the protagonist, alongside Maria Carta, of a special event at the Cala di Volpe hotel.
FAMILY COMMITMENT AND EXHIBITION ACTIVITY
In 1985 she is chosen, along with other artists, to furnish the official rooms of the Italian Navy ship “Zeffiro.” In 1987, under the direction of her daughter Giusy, she opens the art gallery “Athena” in La Spezia (also based in Lerici), while later her son Marco runs the gallery “Punto Arte” which until today curates the Maria Murgia Digital Works Archive.
ARTISTIC EVOLUTION AND DIGITAL ART
Maria Murgia participates in numerous art fairs in Italy and abroad. Her research never stops: always open to experimentation, in 2005 she asserts herself as one of Italy’s most cutting-edge artists in digital art. Her photomosaics, characterized by a style close to Pop Art, carry a strong and timely message against globalization consumerism, the commodification of women, and the oppression of childhood.
HONORARY CITIZENSHIP
In 2012, following a meeting with the Mayor of Ossi, Prof. Pasquale Lubinu, she donates a selection of works to her hometown, giving life to the Maria Murgia Pinacotheca, now housed in the municipal halls. The Pinacotheca is dedicated to the memory of her husband Giovanni, who passed away on July 20, 2014 after 57 years of marriage. In 2015 she received honorary citizenship of Ossi, awarded in an official ceremony at the Baronial Palace.
TELEVISION INTERVIEWS
October 18, 2010 marks the first broadcast on Telemarket, presenting digital works to the public. On January 25, 2015 Maria Murgia participates live from the Meeting Arte studios in Vercelli in the presentation of the Exhibition/Auction of 30 photomosaics. Also at the invitation of Meeting Arte, Murgia is part of the jury of 20 internationally renowned artists for the 39th edition of “The Model for Art 2015.”
In 2016 two interviews on national TV channels are noted: March 3 on Rete 7 in the program “Contemporary Artists” and April 14 on Canale Italia 135 at the Portobello studios in Genoa for the presentation of a photomosaic exhibit.
Recently she has held solo shows at ArteParma and Modena 2024 and ArteGenova 2026.