Maria Rosa Franzin, was born in Tripoli (LY) in 1951. She moved back to Italy with her family at the age of ten, but her childhood's memory remains a great presence in her background. As a young girl she started her studies at Pietro Selvatico Art School in Padova, under the guide of Maestro Mario Pinton. After graduating at the Academy of Arts in Venice, she started her career both as artist and teacher at the Selvatico School in Padova, where she taught until 2018.

Her works are exhibited throughout Europe and the world and are present in many museums and private collections.

She has been delivering various courses, conferences and workshops and collaborates with many Universities, among them the BIFT in Beijing and the Academy of Venice Master Course for contemporary jewellery.

Lives and works in Italy.

Education and Training

1967-1969 Scuola d’Arte Pietro Selvatico, Padova (I)

1970-1974 Accademia Belle Arti, Venezia (I)

1986-2018 Docente Istituto d’Arte P. Selvatico, Padova (I)

2015-2018 Class BIFT Pechino (CHN)

2013-2021 Presidente AGC - Associazione Gioiello Contemporaneo

Solo Exhibitions

2004-2018 Barcelona (E); Göteborg (S); Munich (DE)

2025 Graz

Group Exhibitions

1984-2022 Caracas (VEN); Hanau, München, Schw.bisch Gmünd (D); NewYork, Chicago (USA); Wien (A); Berna (CH); Lathi (FL); Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kofu, Kyoto (J); Den Haag (NL); Gent, Anversa (B); Lussemburgo (L); Dublino (IRL); Lubiana, Maribor (SLO); St.

Petersburg (RUS); London, Edinburgh, Glasgow (UK); Melbourne (AUS); Legnica, Krakow (PL); Paris, Strasburgo (F); Lisboa (P); Barcelona (E); Padova, Firenze, Livorno, Roma, Milano, Casalmaggiore, Muggia, Trieste, Udine, Treviso, Vicenza, Torino, San Felice/Benaco, Pavia, Asolo (I); Beijing, Shanghai, Qinghai, Anaya (CHN); Riga (LT)

Museums and public collections

Collezione Permanente Fondazione Raffaele Cominelli San Felice/Benaco (I)

MAD Museum, New York (USA)

Museo d’Arte e Arti Applicate, Musei Eremitani, Padova (I)

Museo degli Argenti Palazzo Pitti Firenze (I)

Museo Gallery of Art Legnica, (PL)

National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh (UK)

Maria Rosa Franzin uses tiny specks of fine gold on the surface of white or oxidized silver, as if it were paint that she applies to the surface of the metal in the form of brush strokes or tiny dots. This pictorial approach stems from her background at the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice where she trained as a painter. Since the early days, Franzin has made use of gold in a very light, almost insubstantial manner. The gold specks almost become intangible, but at the same time are able to capture the light and show us the beauty of their warm natural colour in contrast to that of the dark or white silver they are lying on. An important feature in her work is the three-dimensional aspect. Most of her works have a double layer or have elements protruding so as to create a shadow or occupy the surrounding space. Her latest pieces have seen the introduction of resin, creating monochromatic crust-like surfaces, that at times englobe other elements, such as coral.