Martina Sarritzu: Grotesque Comics and the Beauty of the Ugly

Martina Sarritzu (born 1992 in Cesena) is an Italian comic artist known for her grotesque and kitsch style. After studying scientific high school and earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology, she felt frustrated and decided to reset by enrolling at the Accademia di Fumetto e Illustrazione in Bologna. She initially felt out of place but eventually found her voice. Sarritzu's work focuses on the imperfect details of reality: body hair, sweat patches, calluses, and human flaws like wrong choices and power dynamics. She draws inspiration from her childhood and adolescence in Romagna and Sardinia. Her first book, 'Vacanze in scatola' (Canicola, 2020), was co-created with Tuono Pettinato, who passed away on June 14, 2021. Sarritzu describes Pettinato as generous and intelligent, giving her creative freedom. She also created a comic for Artribune Magazine depicting children killing crabs on the beach, based on her own childhood experiences. Sarritzu's approach involves documenting real life through photos and videos before translating it into comics, a process she finds reassuring.