Maurizio Anzeri

Maurizio Anzeri is an Italian contemporary artist currently residing and working in London. His artistic practice spans various media, including sculpture, photography, drawing, and traditional craft techniques. Anzeri is particularly recognized as a pioneer in the art of embroidery applied to found photographs.

His innovative approach to combining embroidery with photographs was inspired by childhood memories of relatives mending fishing nets on the Italian coast near Genoa. Anzeri's artistry evolved to incorporate meticulously patterned colored threads, creating expressive and three-dimensional additions to vintage photographs.

In 2011, Anzeri gained prominence with his first solo show in a major UK institution titled "Family Day" at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The exhibition showcased his unique technique of overlaying colored threads on portraits from the 1930s and 1940s, sourced from flea markets. By stitching directly onto the photographic surface, Anzeri transformed flat images into objects with a psychologically charged presence, drawing influences from contemporary fashion, voodoo ceremonies, and surrealist imagery.

Anzeri's work is held in various public and private collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Saatchi Collection, Fondazione Agnelli, Shanghai Gallery of Art, Gagosian Collection, Rothschild Collection, Ivor Braka Collection, Statoil Collection, Missoni Collection, The Museum Of Everything, Museo Cantonale, Museum Kunstpalast, and Pier24 Photography. His artistic contribution lies at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary visual expression.