Alessandra Di Francesco was born in Rome in 1965 and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1988. Her first solo exhibition in Germany, in Wuppertal—the city hosting Pina Bausch’s Tanz-Theater—marked her profound connection with this artist. Numerous solo and group exhibitions followed in Italy and abroad. The 2001 exhibition “Imbastire legami crea trame” (Galleria Maniero, Rome) represents a turning point in her artistic journey: from expressionist painting, Alessandra moved towards the idea, the concept, and the logical process that proceeds through connections. Painting becomes the act of linking something ancient with something present and entirely new. She introduces, in turn, codes—from Morse to Braille—used to support a message that had to be revealed and simultaneously protected. The patterns, inspired by lace and decorative tradition, accompany portraits and subjects as a kind of writing to be decoded. Her investigation explores the connections between thread lace and neural networks, between basting and Morse code, between DNA sections and grandmother’s doilies.

Among the main solo exhibitions: 2018, Nel mezzo, Interno 14, Rome; 2016-2016, Artist Residency Bocs Art, Cosenza; 2015, Stich and Pierce, Galleria Sinopia, Rome; 2015, Quattro Tempi, Spazio Foldes (Ex Lanificio Pietralata), Rome; 2013, Il fior fiore, 3B Gallery, Rome; 2012, Mit Ihnen “come un vento che soffia senza fine”, Spazio le cinque lune, Rome; 2011, Defrente-detras, Centro Cultural Inboccalupo, Buenos Aires; 2010, In-vestiti, Galleria Maniero, Rome; 2007, Stars, Horti Lamiani, Bettivò, Rome; 2003, Pas de bourrèe, Galleria Maniero, Rome; 2001, Imbastire legami crea trame segui il filo, Galleria Maniero, Rome; 1996, Vocazione, Bachstubengalerie, Wuppertal (Germany), joint exhibition with Elena Pinzuti; 1993, Rievocando affermando, Stanze indipendenti, Rome; 1989, Ohne Titel, Bachstubengalerie, Wuppertal, Germany.