THE ART GALLERY
Chasing a dream, my dream: this is how my gallery, Orizzonti Arte Contemporanea, was born in 2006, in the heart of the White City of Ostuni, Puglia.
As a restless and curious wanderer, I have always dreamt of bringing here in Puglia a little taste of the huge artistic panorama of the world, and Puglia is yet a space renowned for its art and history.
During my various travels around the world, I have always considered Art as an inextinguishable source of social culture and historic knowledge, and as an infinite source of happiness, pleasure and satisfaction, feelings which I lose myself in every time I enter a museum, an art gallery or every time I get in touch with any kind of artistic form.
All the experiences I have been through have pushed me to dream of realizing a special place in my home territory to be filled in with the touching Beauty of art and art inspiration. My dream was to offer to all the casual guests, tourists and curious ones, wandering around during their holidays of relax and pleasure, the possibility of suddenly breathing a colourful breeze, vibrant of emotions that reach straight their hearts and their silent and perhaps unknown interior world. A mixture of Apulian taste, made of joy and happiness, however with the guaranteed sign of quality, artistic professionality and non-native pictorial style.
So, I began following the works of international young artists, supporting and encouraging them in their artistic growth, in order to cooperate together to transform an originally 25 square meter gallery in the suburbs of Ostuni, in a vivid space full with ideas, creativity, joy and well-being. I strongly believe in the importance of human contact as the basis of every relationship, and for this reason, I love to know the personal and artistic history of each artist I follow, and I am proud to have established with them solid relations, made of true friendship, artistic professionality and mutual respect.
I know how hard it is to work in the field of Art and how deep is the effort each artist, being him/her a painter, a sculptor, a writer, an actor, a musician, make to stay loyal to themselves and to their own ideas. I believe that this effort is so precious and fundamental for the realization of a free, mature and creative point of view, to which artists work hard every day struggling with themselves to create a real and pure expression of the self. And the emotions, if the work is true to their spirit, are able to communicate strong emotions to others, reaching perfectly their goals.
I have learnt to grow together with these artists, developing a critical, mature and attentive eye, careful to all the worthy artistic expressions, able to move my feelings deeply… from painting to sculpture, from music to live performance, from installations to body art, from concerts to theatre, I have welcomed many artists from all over the world. The road has been long and full of obstacles, but now I am quite proud of the development of my project, that has been giving me, since years of hard work, huge satisfaction. I feel myself alive thanks to the continuous exchange of energy that propagates from each work of art to me, without any lack of professionality and pleasure, and that hits anyone entering the gallery, creating a sense of mutual sharing of feelings.
So, I began following the works of international young artists, supporting and encouraging them in their artistic growth, in order to cooperate together to transform an originally 25 square meter gallery in the suburbs of Ostuni, in a vivid space full with ideas, creativity, joy and well-being. I strongly believe in the importance of human contact as the basis of every relationship, and for this reason, I love to know the personal and artistic history of each artist I follow, and I am proud to have established with them solid relations, made of true friendship, artistic professionality and mutual respect.
I know how hard it is to work in the field of Art and how deep is the effort each artist, being him/her a painter, a sculptor, a writer, an actor, a musician, make to stay loyal to themselves and to their own ideas. I believe that this effort is so precious and fundamental for the realization of a free, mature and creative point of view, to which artists work hard every day struggling with themselves to create a real and pure expression of the self. And the emotions, if the work is true to their spirit, are able to communicate strong emotions to others, reaching perfectly their goals.
I have learnt to grow together with these artists, developing a critical, mature and attentive eye, careful to all the worthy artistic expressions, able to move my feelings deeply… from painting to sculpture, from music to live performance, from installations to body art, from concerts to theatre, I have welcomed many artists from all over the world. The road has been long and full of obstacles, but now I am quite proud of the development of my project, that has been giving me, since years of hard work, huge satisfaction. I feel myself alive thanks to the continuous exchange of energy that propagates from each work of art to me, without any lack of professionality and pleasure, and that hits anyone entering the gallery, creating a sense of mutual sharing of feelings.
In 2010, the great chance: from the suburbs of Ostuni to a new home, just near the wonderful Cathedral of Ostuni, majestic example of Dalmatian style, located in Piazzetta Cattedrale. The Cathedral seems to shield the door of the gallery, together with the adjacent Palazzo Vescovile from XVIIIth century, that hosts the left side of the gallery itself. These two examples of silent magnificence inevitably give to the guests an atmosphere of magic, mysticism and mystery.
I often find myself thinking to all the things I have done and I have built with hard work and true passion in these many years, in a country like Puglia, that, even if saturated of ancient art, is not so inclined in welcoming different forms and genres of contemporary art.
I am proud of hosting numerous internationally renowned artists, that embellish with their works my rich collection of contemporary art. I am proud of receiving every day appreciation and esteem of allure, quality and artistic leverage from both national and international audiences, heterogeneous and careful to catch completely the stunning beauty of the region.
And I am proud also of this… of promising and donating to each person, on holiday or just randomly visiting, an unforgettable memory, where the pleasant welcome of the artistic patrimony of our beautiful Puglia meets a “sweet wellness”, among emotions, senses, colours, tastes of dreams and snapshots of trips in distant lands.
Fabrizio Fontana, Think. – Tecnica Mista su Tavola, 130x100cm, 2019
MANY YEARS TOGETHER
Read our reviews
Claudia Stöckle
Nicola Milella
Donato D’Amico
eleganza e stile possono essere scontati ma non mancano di certo...a fare la differenza è la direttrice artistica che oltre a queste qualità ha umanità e simpatia, non sempre scontate in una galleria d'arte.Maria-Claudie Pontus
Galleria d'Arte Contemporanea situato proprio accanto all'Arco Scoppa. Opere originali e interessanti. Accoglienza calorosa. Vi consiglio.Carmela Carrescia
Dans cette galerie où je suis entré pour la première fois il y a plusieurs années, il y avait une exposition personnelle de Giannetti , le cheval d'une écurie qui promeut et soutient des artistes dont la créativité et le génie ont transformé cet espace d'exposition en un Pays des Merveilles, où le réel et le surréel se chevauchent et où la métaphore règne en maître. La galeriste, Gabriella Damiani, est une femme intelligente et de caractère, à qui j'ai personnellement confié le surnom de Peggy, pour sa capacité innée à découvrir des talents et à animer ce lieu magnifique en organisant des événements hors du commun.Mattia Saracino
Ilaria Musci
Bisognerebbe dare un rilievo maggiore a posti come questo. La gallerista è fantastica, le opere esposte varie e interessanti. Una tappa d'obbligo per chi viene a Ostuni.Rossella Proto
La galleria è situata nella piazza più bella di Ostuni, quella della Concattedrale, il contrasto che si vive fra il dentro e fuori la galleria è fantastico. Le opere esposte, di altissima qualità, avvicinano il visitatore ad una realtà di grande spessore artistico che valorizza il nostro territorio. Ogni volta che ci torno il piacere e la bellezza mi rimane addosso per lungo tempo e mi regala belle emozioni .
Inoltre l'accoglienza di Gabriella, ideatrice e regista della galleria, è cordiale e professionale.
Peccato che di posti così ne siano pochissimi nei paraggi.Ezio Dellosta
Per chi vive d'emozioni, e chi visita Ostuni sa di cosa parlo, l'ingresso in galleria è d'obbligo..le opere scelte per l'esposizione sono da gustare una per una, come una serie di portate d'eccellenza. La gallerista, Gabriella Damiani, è da lodare sia per la scelta degli autori che per il suo "savoir faire" con gli avventori, noi compresi. Difficile lasciare questo luogo così ricco di energia positiva! Davvero una tappa da non perdere per chi ama l'arte e la passione.Antonella Porfido
Nel cuore di Ostuni, una galleria d'arte di grande fascino. Sculture, quadri e opere di artisti rinomati e alcuni da scoprire. Pezzi di arte bellissimi, curati e selezionati dalla appassionata gallerista.
Non potete mancare questa visita, soprattutto dopo aver attraversato la strada bellissima che sale ad Ostuni inquinata da cibo e cianfrusaglie... Respirerete un'altra aria.