Giovanni Gellona
b. 1980
Chile
Since I was a child I have been in a constant search where the spiritual and the aesthetic seem to go hand to hand. I dabbled in theater, dance, singing and so many other areas. I wanted to be a religious person and a pop star. I kept wondering around until I realized that the path to enlightenment was in my own hands.
Painting was the answer. Something I've been doing since I was 7 years old. Taking up this path has been a revelation, an encounter with images, ideas and beauty, which every day makes me more and more passionate. Through this discipline, and with the creative power that all living beings have, I began to create a world that seeks to connect people with the magical and sublime.
Giovanni Gellona is a versatile artist whose artistic exploration spans various mediums such as photography, music, dance, and painting. Since a young age, Gellona has been on a quest where spirituality and aesthetics harmonize, drawing inspiration from diverse artistic expressions like theater, singing, and dance.
His artistic journey led him to painting, a discipline he has embraced since the age of seven. Within this medium, Gellona discovered a canvas to craft a world that seeks to transcend, intertwining peace, love, and beauty into his surreal and photorealistic portraits. His works bear an otherworldly quality, evoking a sense of the magical and sublime.
While Gellona holds a BA in Fine Arts, his development as a painter has primarily been self-taught. He is currently represented by Conde Contemporary. His journey into the art world saw his portraiture featured in publications across Europe and the United States, garnering attention from esteemed platforms like London's Daily Mail, Italy’s La Repubblica, and Vietnam’s the Dantri newspapers.
Beyond painting, Gellona has ventured into diverse artistic territories. He ventured into photography, capturing the essence of celebrated personalities like Veronica Villarroel. His artistic endeavors also extended to the realm of music, collaborating with renowned musicians and releasing his own EP and solo album.
In 2018, Gellona showcased his solo exhibition "Faith, Blood, and Miscegenation," inspired by the Spanish conquest of Chile. His art delved into historical narratives, often featuring notable figures such as Leonor Varela, Héctor Noguera, and Federico Sánchez. Subsequent exhibitions like "Drama and Beauty" in 2019 and his participation in collective showcases underscored his continued artistic evolution.
Gellona's global outreach expanded with exhibitions in the Philippines, notably presenting a poignant portrait acquired by the J.P. Morgan Bank in Hong Kong. His dedication to art also aligned with humanitarian causes, evidenced by his participation in events supporting UNICEF Philippines in combating child grooming.
Presently based in Chile, Gellona's art encapsulates a journey that transcends boundaries, inviting viewers into a world brimming with surreal narratives, peace, and profound beauty.