Local StoriesAugust 26, 2022

Rising Stars: Meet Fabrizio Bianchi of Durham

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabrizio Bianchi.

Hi Fabrizio, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.

Art has become everything to me, from drawing and coloring at an early age to pursuing two fine arts degrees to inspiring students and my boys to be creative pioneers. Once painting and drawing became a lifelong commitment beyond academia, the journey as a visual artist was only beginning. As a second-generation Latinx and third-generation painter, it seemed inevitable to pursue a creative future. As a graphic designer by day and fine artist by night, sketching new compositions and finding exhibition opportunities has paid off this year with fifteen shows in the Triangle plus more opportunities planned for next year.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?

You can’t have a smooth road without running into the occasional rough areas along the way. After graduate school, I would occasionally paint but struggled with subject matter and show opportunities while working a full daytime job. As I started painting more, my confidence grew in the abstract world as opportunities presented themselves. With more shows came more confidence and connections, and the art community seemed to grow overnight. I guess a little persistence pays off, even if the struggle by the day doesn’t create the success right away.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a graphic designer by day and a fine arts painter by night, so visuals always play a role in my daily routine. My artwork is a combination of acrylics and mixed media on canvases and boards of different sizes. I have mostly worked in abstract and intuitive styles, which creates endless possibilities in the outcome until the canvas evolves and reveals itself over time. My style, combined with a playful double entendre on titling the artwork has sparked great conversations on my thought process at shows. I love working in different textures and techniques, from angular straight lines and patterns to splashing and dripping paint across the surface to make each composition stand out. Who knows what’s in store for next year? Besides teach more painting classes, process and how-to videos might be next…

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?

I have loved the Raleigh art scene over the years, which adds to a wide range of creative talent in the Triangle in every venue. Every month offers something new at every First Friday at any given gallery, in addition to the NC Museum of Art and the (CAM) Contemporary Art Museum. The city is also a part of a larger community that has grown into cities like Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough with more people coming out to experience an expanding variety of indoor and outdoor activities. I have also seen a stronger presence of ethnic and cultural diversity. As I have become more acquainted with artists and galleries in Raleigh and the Triangle, I’ve seen an expanding Latinx art community that shows a lot of potential for growth as a competitive cultural identity.

The main drawback I have seen with Raleigh and the Triangle in general is the lack of public transportation specifically for Art Walks. With every city having their own day each month for art shows (Raleigh on First Fridays, Chapel Hill/Carrboro on Second Fridays, Durham on Third Fridays, Hillsborough on last Fridays), there seems to be a lost potential in reaching more galleries with a bus or shuttle each night. With more foot traffic on those nights, neighboring venues like bars and restaurants could also benefit with the increase in business and activity.

Contact Info:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabzart21
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fabrizio.bianchi.1004

Image Credits
All images created and taken by Fabrizio Bianchi

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1 Comment

Barbara A Spaulding

August 27, 2022 at 6:14 pm

Collaborating with Fabat the workplace, during the workday, I can see now how he’s developed two strong artistic facets. At work, he takes mundane input and polishes the the basics he’s given to work with and improves our visual output with professional and engaging touches using primarily digital tools.

In his free time, his passion for painting more Cubist or modern works shows another facet of his talent. What an artist! 🎨

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