Marianna Canu is an Italian painter, jewelry designer and writer. She was born in 1971 on the island of Sardinia, Italy into a family of painters, metal smiths and architects. She grew up living and breathing art. At the early age of 5, she started making jewelry and experimenting with colors and paintings. Roman architecture and geometric forms inspired her, resulting in some of the most stunning and unique jewelry designs and patterns.
In 1990 she began her career as a jewelry designer but she continued her first love… painting. Her designs provoked the attention and enthusiasm of a very involved audience and soon she found herself designing and producing jewelry for several upscale Boutiques and jewelry stores in the elite tourist resorts of Sardinia. "Designing jewelry is an art form, it is a perfect marriage of emotional expression and craftsmanship”.
Marianna's experience extends even beyond the canvas and jewelry. She has worked on TV as a show host for a Sardinian channel and she has also been in two commercials and held a minor role in the American movie "Baretta's Island".
In 1999 she moved with her husband to New Orleans to establish her jewelry company and her jewelry galleries. It was shortly after introducing her designs to the American market that she was noted for her collections such as Galaxy, Afrodite, Connectivity and Libellula. This last one was inspired by her son Riccardo. Her work was carried in almost 200 stores all over the country and was purchased by several TV Stars, politicians and several Hollywood celebrities including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jane Seymour, Nicolas Cage, Blake Lively and Claire Danes. She designed the jewelry for the Krewe of Exalibur for several years and for a few local clothing designers. Her work was considered to be unique, dramatic and edgy. Between 2002 and 2010, Marianna and her husband opened four jewelry stores. Her paintings were incorporated in the decor of each gallery. Her creative streak kept leading her focus on her paintings.
In 2011, she started dedicating her time to painting and writing. She published her poetry and quotes on her site www.mariannacanu.com. She has worked on mixed media but now her focus is on acrylic on canvas. She is a modern abstract painter. Her work is dynamic and contemporary. "I love the mathematical precision of geometric shapes, I see harmony and sophistication in geometrical forms. Colors give me comfort. Everything I transfer into my paintings is what I am and what I see. I leave a part of me in each of my creations. I have used everything from paint brush, pallet knife, my hands and even at times dipping the ends of my hair for a wispy personal touch. I feel one with the canvas”.
She believes abstract is the way to express her inner emotions. She likes to add light to her paintings by using mica. "I communicate with my canvas, I consider the canvas as a whole and I don`t stop painting until I have nothing else to say. I take a few steps back and I immediately know if I have fully expressed myself or not. I don`t like to copy from nature because I feel that it interferes with my imagination process. I am very passionate, I believe passion is the key to everything. I can't imagine my life without a canvas. I don't believe in imperfections, I see only beauty ". Marianna still resides in New Orleans with her husband and their two children.
"I communicate with my canvas. Everything I transfer into my paintings is what I am and what I see. I take a few steps back and I immediately know if I have fully expressed myself or not. I don't believe in imperfections, I see only beauty. Art is my oxygen." - Marianna Canu
