Debora Barnaba

Year:

2017

Debora Barnaba – Artist and Photographer

Debora Barnaba is a Milan-based artist and photographer whose work combines the discipline of drawing and painting with the expressive immediacy of photography. She discovered her main medium in 2006, after years of studying traditional art, and since then has developed a practice distinguished by the formal construction of her images and the ability to aestheticize ideas through a single, powerful click.

Her self-portraits, often stark in style, channel her interior reflections and recall the intensity of Francesca Woodman, while transcending subjectivity to offer a body in which the viewer can recognize themselves. Alongside her personal research, she has collaborated with leading photographers such as Maurizio Montagna, Roger Weiss, Giovanni Gastel, and Oliviero Toscani. With Toscani, she contributed to the 2009 project on Florence, later published in the catalogue Santo Spirito.

In 2010, Il Fotografo magazine dedicated a cover story to her work. The following year she published her first book, Visioni del vuoto: Varese (Arterigere Edizioni, 2011), with critical texts by Riccardo Crespi, Riccardo Manzotti, and Sandro Iovine, presenting a unique portrait of the Garden City. Since then, she has continued to experiment, extending her research into video and collaborating with painter Silvio Pasotti on projects exploring the human body.

Her works have been exhibited internationally, from Theca Gallery in Lugano to Cortina Gallery in Milan, Marzia Frozen Gallery in Berlin, the Biennale di Genova, and many others. She also works in fashion photography, with images published in L’Officiel, Cosmopolitan, OOB, and numerous international magazines.

Awards include the Critique Prize at the Genova Biennale (2017), a jury mention at The Independent Photographer award (2017), third place at Premio Serbelloni (2014), finalist at Premio Giovani Artisti Borgomanero (2012), third place at Premio Ghiggini Arte Giovani (2012), and a special jury mention at Premio Giovani Artisti Borgomanero (2011).

Publications and catalogues: Her works have appeared in Biennale di Genova (2017), Regione Lombardia: Four Seasons of Beauty (2017), Giorgio Bonomi’s Il corpo solitario vol. 2 (2017), Expo Tales (2015), White Catalogue (2015), La Varese che vorrei (2014), 12 Riflessi (2014), Premio Giovani Artisti (2011–2012), Cristalli di Rocca (2008), and others.

NNC Selection
Debora Barnaba was selected by NNC Gallery for the strength of her self-portraits, her exploration of the body as a universal language, and her international exhibition record. The works listed above represent the projects and milestones that led us to include her in our curatorial program, recognizing her as an artist whose vision and consistency make her a solid and compelling choice for collectors.

CRITICAL NOTE
Debora Barnaba is a Milan-based visual artist and photographer who uses the human body as a universal language. Her staged self-portraits and poetic images recall Francesca Woodman while establishing a distinct contemporary voice. She has collaborated with Giovanni Gastel and Oliviero Toscani, and her work has been published in Vogue, L’Officiel, and Marie Claire.

WHY INVEST
Barnaba’s art combines technical precision with emotional intensity, making her works culturally resonant and highly collectible. With international exhibitions in Paris, Havana, London, and beyond, her growing visibility and strong conceptual identity make her an ideal investment for collectors seeking timeless and evocative photography.

SPECIAL PROJECT

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These works are the ones through which we selected the artist.

Their current production can be verified directly through their official contacts. We, as art advisors, are available to act as intermediaries and guarantors for any sales, ensuring a safe and transparent purchase process.