ISABELLA SARACENI
Isabella Saraceni’s artwork is deeply rooted in tactile engagement. It aims to evoke a sensory experience before the viewer processes the deeper meaning behind each piece. This emphasis on physical presence in art emerged from Saraceni’s personal tragedy—the sudden loss of a loved one. This experience has profoundly shaped her work, which often explores themes of presence, absence, and the body’s impermanence.
In response to her grief, Saraceni creates sculptures and works on paper, incorporating images of personal photographs, including her loved one’s fingerprints, a kite flying scene, and objects she collected during daily walks. These images, transferred using the artist’s own thumbprint, create a reflective space that speaks to both physical presence and the absence of the body. As one of the central motifs, the kite sculptures symbolize hope and longing and represent a compass or clock, marking time and the search for direction in the wake of loss.
The themes of absence and impermanence are further explored in Saraceni’s larger works, such as Dark Matter, a piece created on handmade paper. This work reflects on life's fleeting moments and the limited human understanding of the universe. Saraceni’s use of silver paint, which is only visible under specific lighting conditions, adds an extra layer of depth and mystery, symbolizing the reflectiveness of nature. This exemplifies the constant changes depending on our perspective. The reflective qualities of the silver paint echo the understanding that life and death are complete in that there is non-separateness between us and everything around us and that our mutual mortality is the connector.
Saraceni’s imagery often draws from her daily walks, incorporating objects and scenes representing mortality, decay, and regeneration. One such image juxtaposes a neighbor’s fairy garden with a gravesite memorial, illustrating the contrasts between life’s transient nature and death’s permanence. This combination of mundane and profound imagery encourages the viewer to reflect on the small, overlooked moments that can hold great significance.
The artist’s use of handmade paper adds an organic element to her work, reinforcing her focus on the interconnectedness of all things—whether human, animal, or natural. These frames guide those experiencing loss, embodying the artist’s belief that embracing mortality can bring us closer to life by encouraging reflection, connection, and healing.
— Asia Bender, OSU Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy, PhD Student
EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION BY SAM LO, OSU MFA PHOTOGRAPHY 2026