Antonella Leoni

Antonella Leoni is an Italian artist in Cairo, passionate about the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Marbling, expert in Islamic Art.

Postgraduate  Diploma  in  Asian  Art  and  the  Arts  of  Islamic  World from the Holloway University, London and the British Museum in 2003;  

Master in Fine Arts of China Painting in Milan in 2010;

Diploma in the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornaments at the Academia Khalil Agha in Cairo in 2019.

Her artistic approach combines ancient techniques with a mystical connotation that makes her works known for her imagination and contemplation of the Divine.

Verses from the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and old poems inspire her feelings and imagination, as well as the ancient pattern marbling motifs  which create unique effects, like a DNA impossible to replicate. Although marbling may appear as the simplest step in Antonella’s creative process, it is a critical one in terms of output, as there is no possibility to correct once the shape emerged from the water is transferred to the paper. Indeed, the marbling process symbolises both the abstract expression, which constitutes the most basic philosophy in Islamic Art, and submission to Divine, which constitutes the most basic attitude in Islam. 

The papyrus, solicited by Antonella’s hands, emerges from the water like the primordial island, full of creative potential: the colour have now clanged to the fibres, forming figures. Antonella observes and reads, with wise touches she brings out the figures. Images-words and words-images. They are already perceivable in the creation that emerged from water, now they must be called into full existence.

The creative process of Antonella, started and developed in Egypt, seems to be born directly from the Egyptian cultural climate, since its oldest origins. Not only it is inspired by Islamic culture, but it lives in the intuition of the Pharaonic tradition. In Antonella’s works, figures and letters emerge from the papyrus coming out of the water, and recognised by the artist, to create an intense, colourful, and powerful universe, fantastic and at the same time rooted in history.

Her  experience  in  Cairo  was  not  only  a path of learning  the  art  of  Arabic  calligraphy  but  a consolidation of her spiritual maturity, embracing cultures and traditions.

Her works are a fusion of arts and cultures, extremely sophisticated. They hold ‘Sophia’, that is culture, knowledge, wisdom and spirituality together in a visual thought.  These works represent beautiful objects but also works of contemplation and reflection. Writing the most beautiful words is like perpetuating beauty and their spiritual meanings. A  process  where  both  artist  and  observer  are  spiritually  elevated  by  a  visual  communication  which nourishes souls.

Among her most recent international exhibitions: the “Italy, Cultures, Mediterranean” Project in Jordan; the “Al Azhar Al Sharief  Forum  for  Arabic  Calligraphy”  in  Cairo; Biennials  of  Arabic  Calligraphy  in  Cairo; the UNESCO’s Headquarter exhibition “Arabic language, a bridge between civilisations” in Paris; exhibitions in Belgium, Italy, Kuwait, Dubai; the Jeonnam International SUMUK Biennale in South Korea; the “Other Cultures” Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 10th edition, “Elevation”; “Arabic language beyond the legacy” UNESCO Conference in Rabat; AUD artist talk at the Department of International and Middle Eastern Studies and in the Museum of Calligraphy in Sharjah, Art Symposium at Sultanate of Oman embassy in Cairo. 

Her essays regarding the importance of preserving Arabic Calligraphy were published in Art D’Égypte.

A book about her artistic ideas , feelings and experience will be published in 2023.

Antonella allowed some of her paintings to illustrate several initiatives of the MIAS (Muhyddin Ibn Arabi Society), the worldwide research association founded in London in 1977 to promote better understanding of the works of Ibn Arabi and his followers. In doing this, she implemented her idea that an authentic and profound religious philosophical thought should be accompanied by an equally authentic and profound drawing