Paola Franchi

My life

I was born in Milan, Italy, on November 17th; my star sign is Scorpio though I have a bizarre artistic streak in my DNA.

When I was younger and attending art college, I was given the opportunity to work as a model in my free time. I jumped at the chance as it was fun and gave me the chance of becoming slighting independent.

When I had finished school, I started working in my mother’s interior decorating studio. There I discovered that interior decorating was one way I could express my creativity.

In 2005 I felt the urge to move away from my home city. Milan no longer gave me any emotions. I wanted to find somewhere I could live (at least for part of the year) with greater freedom and closer contact with nature.

Cesare, my lover, shared my hankering. We started looking and we found our paradise: Africa with its violent colors and uncontaminated nature.

These new scenarios were an incredible stimulus for me and I started creating new ideas: a collection of sculptures created with material found on the beaches (shells, driftwood, etc.), delightful pieces of jewelry that were inspired by the beautiful, colored pearl adornments worn by the Masai.

The endless faces, the variety of ethnicities and tribes…

A...

The picture starts by taking a new photo of the subject or using an old
one. With the computer the image is built and elaborated and then printed
on a a canvas with a most modern technology. At last it will be decorated
in order to obtain shining, glittering and dashing effects.
The result is a new mixed technique, which produces an original style,
combining Art, Technology and Design.

In October 2009 Paola Franchi had her first personal exibition, “Fantasy Portraits”, in a unique site, that is the 31st floor of Grattacielo Pirelli in Milano.

In the same month released her autobiography "The broken love" published by Rizzoli Publisher.

In October 2010 Paola Franchi had her second personal exibition, “Sirens”, in a magic site that is the Acquario Civico (aquarium) in Milano.

In August 2012 Paola Franchi had her third personal exibition, “Scent of Africa” in Malindi Kenya.

In Febbruary 2013 Paola Franchi had her fourth personal exhibition, “Tribal Possession” in the prestigious space of Alleance Francaise Mombasa Kenya.

In October 2014 she took part in a collective art exhibition at the headquarters in Nairobi Kenya of Alleance Francaise.