Arianna in Myanmar, Sept 2006

photo: Joe Lobbato

Once I traveled the world, now I travel within and beyond, trying to paint what the eyes cannot see.

I look for the light of Orion's stars and the Pleiades, queens of the night, the eyes of Antinoûs, the magic of Sagittarius, the mystery of Centaurus - as he fights with the Lupus or perhaps initiates a ritual?

I seek to unveil the faces of Angels, to see the color of air around them - Gabriel emerging from whirl of wind and light, Ariel, ethereal King of the Waters, Michael's peacock-feathered wings and Raphael, the healer, guardian of the sunrise.

I see faces, heads from the past, perhaps from the future: "Family Portraits" … the ambiguous Sibyl, Melchisedek, prophetic King of Salem, the perfect face of the eternally young Antinoûs, archetype of beauty and unconditional love.

I question. What color is the sound of Pan's flute? What shade of green is the water in which Oeagrus lies with his muse? What light lies beyond the Gate to Heaven?

How far is the top of the mountain? If I step through the Magic Door I will have access to the alchemical garden where flowers bloom perennials and health, peace, abundance are sovereign. I try to paint the ecstatic prayer of the Whirling Dervishes. I pray myself. Maybe a prayer can become a painting and a painting become a prayer. Maybe a painting can heal. Colors can bring peace to the soul and give light to the moment.

I give thanks to Mother Earth celebrating on canvas the secret dance of Her flowers. I honor our homes representing the tables where we serve our food, which is life.

And I dream. Dreams grabbed and painted before waking become patterns woven in the Magic Flying Carpets - Dragons and waterfalls, the wedding on the top of the mountain. A phone rings from so far away: is it a message from my blue star? A head lights up in the sky, rushes towards me like a meteor to say:
"remember you are an artist."

Arianna Caroli was born in Orvieto, Italy. She lives in the USA between New York City and Miami and also spends a few months out of the year traveling around the world. Many of her recent works were inspired by her Etruscan land and the magic of southeast Asia. From the journeys through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and India she brings back new series of paintings, photographs and installation projects. Arianna earned a doctorate in Ancient Literature and Archeology at the University of Rome. She painted in Rome under maestro Fortunato del Tavano and completed her studies at Sotheby's in London, The New York Studio School, The Art Students League of New York and with Vladislav Andrejev, Master Iconographer.

She had extensive experience as a set designer and artistic director for such individuals and organizations as James Ivory, Vittorio and Paolo Taviani, Bob Giraldi, J. Walter Thompson, Buitoni-Perugina, Etro and Giorgio Mondadori. Her paintings, drawings and photographs are in art collections in Canada, South America, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Europe. In the USA, her work is represented in the public collection of Babson College, Wellesey, MA, the Museum of XXI Century Art, St. Petersburg, FL and among others, in the private collections of Ronald Lauder, Summer Redstone and Ralph Lauren. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs has recently invited Arianna to paint "live" for four weeks in the Open Studio Project Gallery. When the legendary Gene Moore was Art Director at TIFFANY, she was commissioned to create five paintings for the prestigious windows on Fifth Avenue, NYC. Her paintings are featured in the movies "Perfect Murder", Starring Michael Douglas and "Stepford Wives", starring Nicole Kidman. Arianna has recently published in Italy for her first book about her life and work. "On The Way - In Cammino" is printed in a limited edition of 1001 copies hand numbered and signed by the artist. The book is available at Rizzoli Bookstore on 57th Street, NY City.(Tel.212 759 2424)