CRISTINA VERGANO

BIOGRAPHY

Cristina Vergano is known for her paintings that blend a classical style with fantastical, surrealistic content containing layers of meaning. Author Gail Leggio said of her work, "All of Vergano's subjects—human, animal or hybrid—project warmth and intelligence; a spark of soulfulness emanates from their eyes. While many traditional allegorical figures are essentially mannequins to be accessorized with attributes, Vergano’s figures are beings that elicit a response from the viewer."

Vergano has received critical acclaim in The New York Times, ARTnews, Art in America, and New York magazine, among other publications. She was also featured, alongside Georgia O'Keeffe, Louise Bourgeois, Agnes Martin, and Yayoi Kusama, in the September 2014 article, "Wise Buys: 50 Women Artists Worth Watching," published by Blouin Art+Auction.

Born in Milan in 1960, Vergano studied at the International School of Milan, Liceo Cassini, and Università di Genova before moving to New York where she currently resides. She is represented by Leonard Tourné Gallery, and her work has been featured in the Parrish Art Museum (Southampton, NY), Islip Art Museum (Islip, NY), Anthropology Museum of the People of New York (Queens, NY), Laguna Art Museum (Laguna Beach, CA), Madison Museum of Fine Art (Madison, GA), DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park (Lincoln, MA), and the Chicago Athenaeum (Chicago, IL). Vergano has also designed a line of objects for the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY). She counts among her collectors Whoopi Goldberg, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, and Madonna. 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2016 "Then and Now," Leonard Tourné Gallery, New York, NY 
2014 "The Laws of Attraction,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2013 "Fresh,” Gourmet Garage SoHo, 489 Broome Street, New York, NY
2009-2010 "Cristina Vergano: Just For You,” November - January, Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2008 "Cristina Vergano,” University of Ohio, The Conard Pearl Gallery, Mansfield, OH
2007 "Fresh,” Gourmet Garage SoHo, New York, NY
2006 "Cristina Vergano: Figure of Speech,” September - November, Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2003 "Cristina Vergano: Bitches,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2000 "Cristina’s World: Chronicles of Evolution,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1998 "Pan-American Thanksgiving,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1997 Cascabel Restaurant, curated by John Woodward, in collaboration with Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1996 "Neo-Icons,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1994 "Under the Influence (of Old Masters),” Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
1992 "Recent Work,” Gail Moore Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1990 "Myth and Dream,” Westbanks Gallery, Sag Harbor, New York
1988 "Passion and Pursuit,” Port Armor Country Club, Athens, GA 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2014 "Sur-Real," Woodward Gallery, NYC 2013 “Femalenergy3,” Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
"DETAIL," Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2011 "Secret Message," Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY, September 14 - November 14th
2010 "Cristina Vergano," Lobby of ICM (International Creative Management Agency), New York, NY
2008 "Fashion Forward," Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY
2008 "In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor," June 22 - October 5, The Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 "White Box Benefit Auction," Live Auction by Christie’s, The Altman Building, NY 
"We Cover the Waterfront- A Celebration of Seaport Artists" at the SDCA Exhibition and Performance Space, by invitation through the Seaport District Cultural Association
2006 Featured Artist at Whitebox "Toy Box- Holiday Benefit Auction" at Robert Miller Gallery, NY 2006 Gallery Artists '06-'07,” Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2005 "Variations on a Theme: Money," The City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA
"Winter Paper Seven," Group Exhibition including works on paper by Jean Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, Richard Estes, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and others, Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Track 16 Gallery in collaboration with Juxtapoz magazine, Santa Monica, CA
2003 "Paper Invitational VI," Group Exhibition including works on paper by Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and others; Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2002 "Art Juxtapoz 8th Anniversary Art Show" Group Exhibition, Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2002 "Paper Invitational V," Group Exhibition including works on paper by Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and others; Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2001 "Paper Invitational IV," Group Exhibition including works on paper by Ellsworth Kelly, Keith Haring, Robert Rauschenberg and others; Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2001 "Terrors and Wonders," Decordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA
2000 "Fantasies and Curiosities," The Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, FL
2000 "Anthropology in Art: A Viewer’s Perspective," Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, New York, NY
2000 "Paper Invitational III," Group exhibition including major contemporary and pop artists, Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
2000 "Cow Parade" City of New York, NY
1999 "Femalenergy II: 2000," Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1998 "Nature Outdoors/Inside," Woodward Gallery, New York, NY
1997 "The Figure Revisited," The Gallery at Hastings on Hudson, curated by Lester Kane, Hudson, NY
1996 "The New York Foundling Hospital Benefit Exhibition," Reggio Gallery, New York, NY
1995 "The Lyrical, the Expressionist and the Poetic," National Juried Exhibition curated by Michael Walls, Honorable Mention, Denise Fibro Fine Arts, New York, NY
1995 "Miniature Chairs by Artists of Chairmania," The Chicago Athenaeum, Chicago, IL
1995 "Personal Pursuits: Creations and Collections of Today’s Top Designers," The New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY
1995 "Critical Mass," Tribeca 148 Gallery, New York, NY
1995 "Erotic Art Expo," Griffen Gallery/Florida Art Review, Miami Beach, FL
1994 "Parrish Art Museum’s 34th Juried Exhibition," The Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY
1994 "Masterworks Re-worked," New York Law School, New York, NY
1993 Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles, CA
1991 Mari Hube Gallery, New York, NY
1991 Kips Bay Showhouse, New York, NY
1991 Harry Winston Gala Auction, Dallas, TX
1990 "Bid for the Benefit of New York City Children," Talbot Perkins Children’s Services, Christie’s, New York, NY
1990 "Summer Scenes," Garrett-Stephens Gallery, Southampton, NY
1989 "Summer Pleasures," Masters of Croquet Tournament, Sag Harbor, NY
1989 "Oconee Artists Exhibition VII," Awarded “Best of Show” and “Best In Mixed Media” Atlanta, GA
1988 "International Artists," Box Gallery, Penfield, GA  

COMMISSIONS

PS41, Greenwich Village School, NY for donation
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Liberty Science Center, NJ
Butler & Siegle, Attorneys-at-Law, Atlanta, GA
Civetta Construction, New York, NY 

COLLECTIONS

Director/ Producer Barry Sonnenfeld
Madonna
Robert and Cortney Novogratz, New York, NY
Jonathan Ross, London
Whoopi Goldberg; Whoop Inc.
Oscar Gruss and Sons, Inc., New York, NY
Betty Hannah Designs, Inc., Atlanta, GA
Harless & Associates Financial Services, Atlanta, GA
I.C.A., New York, NY
Hotel Morandi, Sanremo, Italy
“Chez Gianni,” Montecarlo, Monaco
The Coleman Group, New York, NY
Construct Design, New York, NY
Cooper Classic, New York, NY
John and Kristine Woodward,Woodward Gallery, NYC
Giorgia Santagostino & Assoc. Architects, San Remo, Italy 

EDUCATION

International School of Milan
Liceo Classico Cassini
Universitá di Genova, Masters of Art History, 1980 Cultural studies abroad

AWARDS

2001 Featured Artist, The Georgia Review, Summer 2001
2000 Honorable Mention, "Anthropology in Art: A Viewer’s Perspective," Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, New York, NY
1996 Honorable Mention, "The Lyrical, the Expressionist and the Poetic," National Juried Exhibition curated by Michael Walls
1989 Best of Show, "Oconee Artists Exhibition VII," Atlanta, GA
1989 Best in Mixed Media, "Oconee Artists Exhibition VII," Atlanta, GA

SELECT PRESS

M the New York Art World, Interview with M. Brendon MacInnis, January 2010, Cover, p. 12-19, with illustrations.
New York Times, "Where Fashion Meets Its Artistic Match" by Benjamin Genocchio, January 11, 2009, Arts and Entertainment, p. 8.
American Arts Quarterly, "Reviving Iconography: Cristina Vergano and Irene Hardwicke, Olivieri" by Gail Leggio, 2007, Volume 24, number 1.
ArtNews, November 2006, Review by Valerie Gladstone, page 186.
Juxtapoz, August 2006, Feature article by Valerie Gladstone with full color illustrations.
ArtNews, December 2003, Review by Amy Friedman page 119 with illustration.
Art in America, May 2001, Review by Sarah Valdez, pgs. 180 and 181 with illustrations.
Juxtapoz, May/June 2001, Feature Article by Annie Tucker with illustrations.
Blouin Art+Auction, "Wise Buys: 50 Women Artists Worth Watching,” p.94 September 2014