Gianna Dispenza

Gianna Dispenza (b. 1990, Washington) is an artist based in London. Dispenza’s works on canvas straddle the mediums of painting and sculpture. The foundation of her first New York solo exhibition is a heavy reliance on the textural qualities of clay, rather than the broad representational capabilities of paint. Working with the sensibilities of a sculptor, but also adhering to the traditions of painting in many ways, including the initial incorporation of an underpainting, Dispenza’s process begins physically, by pushing clay with her palms, building or reducing shapes and arrangements. She often combines unconventional materials, like volcanic ash or industrial grout.

Dispenza holds a BFA in Sculpture from San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco (2014) and an MA in Painting from The Royal College of Art, London (2020). 

Solo exhibitions include ‘Round Table’, Charles Moffett Gallery, New York (2024); ‘The Sitter, Natasha’, Arselan Gallery, London (2022); ‘Soft Blots Beneath the Sun’, Charles Moffett Gallery, New York (2022); ‘Residency 1’, Galleria Ramo, Como (2021); ‘Overcome By Joy’, Charles Moffett Gallery, New York (2021); ‘Something Reassuringly Hopeless’ (duo with Sam Bourstein), Bass & Reiner, San Francisco (2020); ‘Double Like Tata’, Galleria Ramo, Como (2019).

Dispenza’s work has been featured in group exhibitions at Thomas Ammann Fine Art, Zurich (2024); Charles Moffett Gallery, New York (2024); Frestonian Gallery, London (2023); Baraka, Spetses (2023); Galleria Ramo, Como (2023); The Stable World, St Moritz (2023); Kachette, London (2022); The Stable, S-Chanf (2022); Galleria Ramo, Como (2022); Never at Home, Vienna (2021); Gabar, London (2021); The Stable, S-Chanf (2021); The Function Suite, London (2020); Sook, London (2020); FOLD Gallery, London (2020); König London, London (2020); Josh Lilley Gallery (online), London (2020); Charles Moffett Gallery, New York (2020); Hockney Gallery, London (2020); The Victoria and Albert Museum, London (2019); Double Jeu, Les Jardins D’Etretat, Étretat (2019); Jumee Kim Gallery, Daejeon (2019). 

Dispenza has been artist in residence at Baraka Artists Residency, Athens (2023), Galleria Ramo, Como (2021), Beirut Art Residency (2017). She has been shortlisted for the Bridgeman Studio Award (2020), and awarded the Isaac M. Walter Sculpture Prize, San Francisco Art Institute (2014), Best Figurative Artist, San Francisco Art Institute(2012), and Best Emerging Artist, San Francisco Art Institute (2011).