L’E. VEKTRO

Paintings and Textiles by Elena Ghezzi

San Nicolao Contemporary Art
6 November – 8 December 2026

Bellano, 27 October – From 6 November to 8 December 2026, San Nicolao Contemporary Art in Bellano will host L’E. Vektro. Paintings and Textiles by Elena Ghezzi, a retrospective exhibition dedicated to the creative journey of Elena Ghezzi, a Bellano-born artist and sportswoman who passed away prematurely in 2024.

The exhibition will open to the public on Friday, 6 November 2026, at 7:00 pm at San Nicolao Contemporary Art in Bellano.

The exhibition stems from Elena’s friends’ desire to celebrate the positive mark she left on the lives of those who shared part of their journey with her. It reflects her sensitivity, expressive freedom and creative approach, which embraced a variety of artistic languages and materials. Paintings and sartorial creations form the exhibition’s two main sections, showcasing the richness of a personal artistic exploration in which colour, form and attention to detail intertwine.

Part of the BAC Bellano Arte Cultura programme, the exhibition will also provide an opportunity to support a charitable cause. Pro Loco Bellano APS will organise a fundraising initiative at the exhibition venue, with all donations collected during the exhibition going to the Fondazione Maria Letizia Verga, in support of research and treatment for childhood leukaemia. This initiative combines a tribute to Elena’s artistic and personal legacy with a tangible gesture of care for others, reflecting the values of sharing and sensitivity that underpin this homage.

L’E. Vektro. Paintings and Textiles by Elena Ghezzi brings renewed attention to a figure closely connected to Bellano’s history, offering visitors the opportunity to rediscover her work and memory. The exhibition is therefore not merely an overview of her artistic output, but also an occasion for collective remembrance and solidarity.

From Experimentation to Synthesis

The painting section takes visitors through the different stages of Elena Ghezzi’s artistic research. Her early works, created during her years at art school and her academic training, stand out for their vivid colours, experimentation with techniques and materials, and the presence of evocative sleeping figures. These works reveal an artist still searching for a distinctive visual language, driven by curiosity and a desire to explore different forms of expression.

Following her studies in illustration and graphic design, her work moved towards a more intimate dimension, with an increasingly personal choice of subjects. Her technique remained mixed, combining acrylics and oil pastels. In her more recent works, her research evolved towards greater simplicity: brushwork became more minimalist, the palette was largely reduced to primary colours, and acrylic on cardboard became one of her principal means of expression. This evolution did not abandon her original freedom, but translated it into more pared-back and immediate forms.

Fabric as a Creative Language

Alongside the paintings, the exhibition presents sartorial creations that reveal another fundamental dimension of Elena’s work: her ability to translate visual sensitivity into garments and handmade pieces, with careful attention to design, fit and material selection.

The blouse, a recurring element in her work, demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship from the initial pattern-making stage, evident in the garment’s construction and fit. The full skirt, featuring a simple yet striking design, derives its movement from the swaying of its pleats and the unusual choice of upholstery fabric. The vintage-inspired day dress, meanwhile, is made from reclaimed materials, reflecting an approach that seeks to restore value to overlooked fabrics and transform them into new creative possibilities.

As in her painting, her sartorial work combines attention to detail, formal exploration and a desire to experiment. Her creations convey a distinctly feminine style without sacrificing practicality or inventiveness.

Biography

Elena Ghezzi (Bellano, 1982–2024) began her artistic education at the Gaudenzio Ferrari Art High School in Morbegno. After graduating, she enrolled at the G. Carrara Academy of Fine Arts in Bergamo, where she studied for one year. In 2003, she began studying illustration at the Arte e Messaggio school in Milan, where she met Veronica Barilani, her future creative partner in sartorial design and collaborator. She borrowed the nickname “Vektro” from Veronica, a name that would later become the brand and the name of her tailoring shop.

After working as a graphic designer for several years, Ghezzi pursued further training in tailoring at Euromode School in Bergamo, graduating in 2011. Her diverse educational and professional experiences came together in a practice spanning imagery, drawing and garment construction, always centred on personal exploration and creative freedom.

Contact, Information and Opening Hours

infopoint@comune.bellano.lc.it | Tel. +39 0341 1570370 | www.bacbellano.eu