Susanna Gentili's Dreamlike Illustrations Explored in Artribune Interview

Born in 1991 and based in Rome, Susanna Gentili creates illustrations that transport viewers into suspended, visionary realms with oniric inspiration. She explores the complexity of the female universe with irony and passion, often tinged with melancholy. Gentili studied Graphic Design at the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Roma and specialized in editorial illustration at Mimaster illustrazione in Milan. Her influences include Lorenzo Mattotti, Olimpia Zagnoli, Emiliano Ponzi, and Guido Scarabottolo. She defines beauty as freedom—of being, expression, imagination, and dreaming. Her dream assignment is to illustrate a cover for The New Yorker. Her creative process begins with pencil sketches on paper, then moves to digital. She cites Kill Bill – Volume II as the last film watched and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum as a favorite book. The most unusual request she received was to create an illustration from scratch in about 40 minutes before printing. She finds inspiration in observing her surroundings, discovering hidden details. The lockdown had no impact on her work. The interview was conducted by Roberta Vanali, a contemporary art critic and curator who studied at the University of Cagliari and previously served as editor-in-chief for Exibart.