Born in Genoa, Italy, Gabriella Di XX Miglia received her art education at the Ligustica Academy of Fine Arts in Genoa doing studies with Rocco Borella and Mimmo Rotella, then for three years continued her training under Guido Chiti and Palma Viardo. Later she received her Masters Degree in Art Restoration and Conservation. In 1983 Gabriella opened her painting studio in Los Angeles. Esther Robles, a pioneer in California modern art, organized and hosted Gabriella Di XX Miglia first personal exhibit in USA .Gabriella's works have been shown annually in both national and international shows. She was featured on 1984 in The Los Angeles Times, Sunday Home Magazine.
Her paintings are in the collections of private, corporate, and public sectors. In 1985 she was nominated for Guggenheim Fellowship, New York.
1-What is different from your art work than other artists working in contemporary realism?
I go beyond realism in my desire to capture resonant moments.
2- How important is process versus the end result?
Process is my compulsion of painting born by curiosity. It involves of letting go of controlled, pre-planned finished pieces without expecting an end result. The end result is always unpredictable.
3-What is your ultimate goal when creating contemporary realism?
My ultimate goal is to stay consistent to my muse in connection and balance.
4 -What do you like best about your work?
The surprise of using new tools, the discovery of my subject through different marks, the human connection.
5-What do you do you like least about your work?
It takes a long time to find my end result.
6 -Why contemporary realism?
I always was a figurative painter but also attracted to some elements of dream that makes sometime my art a bit more expressionist. I express my reality who is my connection to all my inner sensations.
7- Which are your greatest influences?
Da Vinci, France Hals, Rembrandt and many more.
8- What is your background?
I studied painting at The Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti in Genoa, Italy and received my Master Degree in Restoration and Conservation from the University of Genoa, Italy. After working in both Italy and USA in bublic and private sectors as a conservator and a restorer I dedicated full time in my art making.
9- Name three artists you’d like to be compared to in history books.
Turner, Giovanni Boldini, Pietro Annigoni
10- Which is your favorite contemporary realism artwork today?
Stephen Bauman in his portrait of a boy with blue eyes.