Helena Barbagelata
Helena Barbagelata
Helena Barbagelata (born in Genoa, Italy, 1991) is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, fashion model, author, researcher, and activist. With a PhD in Philosophy of Science and Mathematics from the University of Athens, she integrates a diverse artistic practice.
Her work spans a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, dance, music, performance, film, and writing, often exploring themes of culture, identity, and society. Through poetic symbolism and human-centric narratives, she challenges audiences to reconsider their perceptions of reality and confront pressing societal issues.
As an artistic activist, Barbagelata has engaged with global human rights causes. In 2023, she showcased the multimedia series “The Long Road Home” at the Human Rights Research and Education Center (HRREC) in Ottawa, addressing the migrant crisis and reflecting on the resilience of displaced people. Her work emphasizes the experiences of those fleeing wars, racial, religious, or political persecution.
Throughout her career, Barbagelata has received awards from the Onassis Foundation, Saint Petersburg Repin Academy of Fine Arts, and Universitat de València. Her works have been exhibited worldwide, from Europe and Israel to South America, Australia, and the United States. In 2023, her painting “Darar II” won Best in Show at the Essence exhibition in Hong Kong.
Her art often highlights social issues and the celebration of femininity, with works that explore sensuality, personal liberation, and the body as a tool for expression and protest. In 2022, she participated in the “1000 Women in Art” exhibition in Mexico and presented her film “AHAVA” in Rome, which explored the rise of hate crimes and the cultural impact of anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia.
Helena has continued to push the boundaries of artistic activism. In 2021, her film “La Chiave dell’Abisso”, a combination of acrylic painting, music, and videography, was part of the “Project Lazaretta” in Greece, focusing on cultural exchange. Her “INSULA” series was displayed at Kulturschöpfer, Green Hill Gallery in Berlin, while she was a finalist for the TAKEDA ART/HELP international prize at the Muzeon Art Center in Moscow. In Buenos Aires, her work “Magma” was awarded a Jury’s Mention for its emotive depth.
In addition to her visual art, Barbagelata’s creative practices involve film and writing, with multiple book publications. Her artistic achievements reflect her commitment to advancing human rights and social causes through multidisciplinary works. As an artist and activist, she continues to influence the global art scene, provoking thought and action in response to the complex challenges facing humanity today. Her most recent projects include: “POLITICAL STATEMENT”, Group show, Loosen Art, Spazio Millepiani, Rome, Italy, January-February, 2022. “ZENAM”, Passover Exhibition 2021, Israeli Art Market, March-June, 2021. ART/HELP. Expanding the Limits of the Visible”, curated by Alexandra Danilova, Saint Petersburg Repin Academy of Fine Arts and the HSE Art and Design School. Muzeon Art Center, Moscow, Russia, 2021, “World of Estrangement”, Supersonic, curated by Dasha Birukova, with the support of Atelier Concorde, Lisbon City Council, “COLIBRÍ”, Totomej Sanili (ed.), Fondo de Conservación el Triunfo (FONCET), Artac (International Association of Mexican Artists with the support of UNESCO). Museo Zacatlán (MUZA), Mexico City, Mexico, 2021, “SPLIT OPEN – IDENTITY, CONNECTIVITY & COMMUNITY”, Kulturschöpfer, Green Hill Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 2021, “Project Lazaretta: Digital Stories from the Old and New World” , curated by Filia Milidaki, Eyes
Walk Festival, CulturePolis, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Greek Government, 2021.
