“I don’t set out to intentionally convey anything specific, but my interests and worries come across subconsciously through the subject matter and the techniques I work with. Today I see my works more as a humble offering of what’s going through me, whatever that may be – spiritual, physical, unnameable.”
Cecilia Granara's practice is an ongoing exploration of intimacy, womanhood, and spirituality. Rooted in a daily routine that combines the spiritual practices of Automatic writing, tarot, and meditation, her work emerges from a deep connection to the subconscious. The artist brings to life the visions that arise during her personal spiritual practices, sketching, and meditating. This process constantly surprises Granara, as her subconscious is given room to express itself freely, without constrictive intentions or directions.
Cecilia Granara was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1991. Of Italian nationality, she grew up in Mexico City, Rome, and Chicago. She presently lives and works between Paris and Mexico City. Granara has a BA from Central St. Martin's School in London, and MFAs from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris and Hunter College, New York. Past institutional Solo shows include 'Naître, Renaître' at Contemporary Art Center Passerelle, France, and 'Tazas y Arcos' at the Italian Cultural Institute, Mexico City. Other significant shows include 'Occhi, Luce, Sangue, Stelle', a duo show with works by Carol Rama at Cassina Projects, Milan and multiple Solo shows at Sapling, London. Granara participated in institutional group shows at Musée D'Orsay (FR), Ford Foundation Gallery (U.S.A.) , FRAC Corsica (FR), Fondation Pernod Ricard (FR), Triennale Milano (IT), Château La Coste (FR), LAAC Musée de Dunkerque (FR), Centre D'Art Contemporain Passerelle (FR), Centre d'Art Parc Saint Léger (FR), Musée Cérès Franco (FR), Contemporary Art Center of Armenia, Zeyrek Cynili Hammam Museum (Turkey), MAXXI, Rome (IT) and ps120 Berlin (Germany). Granara was a finalist of the Antoine Marin Prize in 2019, the Cairo Prize in Italy in 2021, and the Club GAMEC Prize (Italy) in 2023. Her work is part of the X Museum collection, Beijing. She was selected for the HFBK Residency in Hamburg in 2021, CP Projects Milan in 2022, and Territoires Extra Residency as part of CAC Passerelle (France) in 2023.
