sacred and profane

Cristina Celestini draws on her heritage and early memories to retell ancient myths and stories. Taking inspiration from Renaissance frescoes inside churches and The Sistine Chapel, she has taken as her subject matter Ovid’s Metamorphosis, ‘The Annunciation’, and other biblical scenes.

In her practice, Celestini often brings women to the forefront. Among her protagonists are the Sibyls, who assumed a powerful role in ancient prophecy. Riffing on masterpieces, her heroines become active – they twist and turn away from the viewer, fly towards freedom, or find themselves in lush, natural environments.

A dream-like quality also infuses drawings such as Metamorphosis (after Veronese), in which a more introspective Saint Helena appears to muse on her escape from the traditional tale. As the artist says: “many of female figures defy expectations and dream of a different life to the one they have been given.”

Working with coloured pencils, Celestini experiments with line and weaves incredible detail into her figures’ bodies and clothing. By layering images and colours, she explores “the fleeting nature of memory and our ever-changing perceptions.” Her fresh drawings invite viewers to look anew, and through a female lens, at well-known tales.