Nenne Sanguineti Poggi (1909-2012) was an Italian painter. She is best known for her public artworks in Eritrea and Ethiopia, and her commissions for Emperor Haile Selassie.
Nenne Sanguineti Poggi | |
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![]() Poggi posing with mosaic work | |
Born | 1909 Savona, Italy |
Died | 2012 |
Occupation | Artist |
Known for | Public commissions in Eritrea and Ethiopia |
Nenne Sanguineti Poggi was born in 1909 in Savona, Italy.[1][2] She began training under the artist Eso Peluzzi, and early in her life she married before moving to Eritrea.[3][4]
Poggi was commissioned for works by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, creating public works in urban centers within both Eritrea and Ethiopia. Within these works, she sought to merge mid-20th century art movements with the African culture of her surroundings.[3] She was also commissioned by others in the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia, as well as private entities in the region.[1] These large-scale mosaics were created in public squares, churches such as the Mariam Orthodox Cathedral in Asmara,[5] the City Hall in Addis Ababa,[6] United Nations buildings in Addis Ababa,[7] and educational institutes. Her artwork involved both landscapes in the region and portraits of local residents, including both living portraits and expressionist works of others.[1]
After thirty years in Africa, she returned to reside in Italy, where she claimed that her inspiration as a painter waned, leading her to paint from her memories of her time in Africa moving forward.[8] Her later works included “painting, drawing, printmaking, and works that resembled ancient Ethiopian scrolls.”[1]
Poggi died in 2012.[8] A retrospective of her work entitled Artist Without Borders was shown at the America-Italy Society of Philadelphia,[6][9] and her work has also been exhibited in institutions including the Museo d’Arte di Palazzo Gavotti.[10]