Lorenza Boisi's 'Turning Saints into the Sea' at Richter Fine Art in Rome

Lorenza Boisi (born 1972) presents her first solo exhibition at Richter Fine Art in Rome, titled 'Turning Saints into the Sea,' running until May 16, 2025. The show explores water as a primordial element symbolizing metamorphosis, memory, and self-reflection. The title references The Killers' 2003 song 'Mr Brightside,' evoking the paradoxical act of turning saints into the sea—transforming dogma into water. Boisi describes each painting as a self-portrait, intertwining personal memories (childhood swims, the smell of chlorine) with references from Baroque painting to video art. Works include 'The Gardner' (2022), 'Hommage' (2025) citing Munch and Cézanne, 'Sink' (2025), 'Roman Fountain' (2025), and 'Leda' (2025) reinterpreting classical myth. Her technique involves rapid, energetic brushstrokes in a single session, blending figurative and abstract elements. The exhibition marks a turning point in her career, with recent works like 'Ragazzo dell'agro romano' (2025) showing a more essential language. Boisi's practice is informed by literature and academic background, treating books as 'painted form.' The show presents a visceral approach to painting, aiming to capture the ephemeral and transform the intimate into the collective.