Alessandra Carrea: From Photography to Abstract Painting

Italian artist Alessandra Carrea, based in Genova, transitioned from black-and-white portrait photography to abstract painting after a transformative trip to Japan. Growing up with an artist father, she began photographing at fourteen during a journey through China. A visit to Japan prompted a shift to painting, inspired by colors discovered in a Tokyo library. She now works with fingers and sponges, using acrylic paint to create luminous, tactile surfaces. Gold features prominently as a symbol of light and hope. Her influences include Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. Carrea paints in the evening, often listening to the soundtrack of The Last Samurai. Her work SWIMMING (50x50 cm) exemplifies her process. She plans to exhibit in Milan and aspires to show in Japan.