Contents
The Swiss graphic designer is the new star in the art sky. Your pictures are depressing – for good reason.
Even when Louisa Gagliardi creates her works of art on the computer, hand-drawn sketches always come first. These usually occur on the go: on the train, on the plane or in a café. In these moments one is concentrated or even bored, the artist knows. If there is no internet connection, you are almost forced to put your cell phone away. “Then I focus on drawing,” says Gagliardi. “Or I use the time to develop new ideas.”
Dark messages
Louisa Gagliardi’s surreal artworks can be oppressive, the characters lost in a gloomy world. There is a reason for this, as the graphic designer explains: «My pictures are an expression of our technological society. Although we are strongly networked, in real life we have lost the connection with other people. »
Arrived in the art elite
It’s only been eight years since Louisa Gagliardi put everything on the art card. Since then, her career has gone uphill. In 2022 she was allowed to exhibit one of her works at the world’s most important art fair, Art Basel. “Tête-à-tête” sold her for 200,000 francs at the time.
Legend:
Tête-à-tête by Louisa Galgiardi at Art Basel.
Instagram / louisagagliardi
«I have been going to Art Basel with my mother every year since I was twelve. That’s where my heroes were,” enthuses the artist about the fair. “And suddenly I was there myself. It was scary and magical at the same time.”
At home in the Limmat city
Born in Valais, she has been living in Zurich for almost ten years. The 34-year-old feels at home in her home in district four. According to Gagliardi, the city on the Limmat is culturally diverse and well located for her many trips. And: «Zurich is not as anonymous as Paris or New York. In comparison, it’s almost like a village here.”
Zurich is perfectly located for my many trips.
Louisa Gagliardi is now under contract with a well-known gallery in Zurich, which recently showed her works in a solo exhibition at Zurich’s Maag-Areal.