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Newsletter
Biography
Valeria Cherchi (b. 1986 in Sassari, Italy) is a visual artist, photographer and independent educator. She currently lives and works between Milan and Sardinia.
Her non-linear practice focuses on the meaning of the ‘unspoken’, with a particular interest in using images and words to shed light on little known stories about lack of social justice. By weaving together her photography, journal of on-site research, archival material and official narratives, Cherchi creates multivocal chronicles that exposes the contradictions of certain social and political phenomenons before their removal from historical consciousness.
She is the winner of the 2021 Premio Marco Bastianelli for the Best Italian Photography Book. She won the Strategia Fotografia Grant, awarded by the Italian Ministry of Culture in 2025 (with MAN, MAN Museo d’arte della Provincia di Nuoro), in 2024 and in 2020 (with Nivola Museum). Some shortlist prizes include the Dutch Photobook Award, Best Photo-Text Book, the Francesco Fabbri Prize for Contemporay Photography (2021) and for Premio Mila 2025. In 2018 she was named among ‘Ones to Watch’ in the British Journal of Photography.
Amongst the others she has exhibited at Georgetown University Art Galleries (Washington, DC, 2024), at the Accademia Albertina in Turin (2025), Galleria d’Italia Torino (2024), Fondazione Museo Nivola (Orani, 2020), Melkweg Gallery (Amsterdam, 2021), and CentroCentro (Madrid, 2022), Windsor Gallery and MuCAT, Africa Photo Fair (Abidjan, 2023), Jiazazhi Photographic Centre (Ningbo City, Cina, 2021).
She has given lectures and talks at various academies and institutions, including MEP – Maison Européenne de la Photographie (Paris, 2025 and 2023), CAPA Center x MOME University (Budapest, 2025), London College of Communication (MA Documentary & Photojournalism Course, 2022), ICP International Center of Photography di New York (2021), The European Centre for Documentary Research (Cardiff, 2019), The Hellenic Centre for Photography (Athens, 2019) , The University of South Wales (Cardiff, 2021) and RUFA, Rome University of Fine Arts (2020 and 2021).
Education
MA in Multimedia Design and Visual Communication, interdisciplinary course under Architecture, Political Science, Sociology and Communication.
Sapienza University of Rome
MA in Fashion Photography,
University of the Arts London
BA in Industrial Design and Visual Communication,
Sapienza University of Rome
Anthropological, psychological, pedagogical disciplines, teaching methodologies and technologies,
Università Telematica “Leonardo da Vinci”
Other courses:
Taking Your Time: Expanding Long-Term Visual Projects: exploring the production, editing and publishing of long-term multimedia projects
Magnum workshop with Moises Saman and Paul Moakley
Masterclass with Bénédicte Kurzen, Sanne De Wilde, & Francesco Zizola
Nikon-NOOR Academy
Fact Checking, workshop with Nicolas Niarchos
Festival Internazionale di Ferrara
Photographing the Past mentored by Simon Norfolk
ISSP International Masterclass
Exhibitions
SOLO SHOWS
2025 – RE:Birth, EXPOSED – Accademia Albertina Torino – IT (festival)
2023 – Some of You Killed Luisa, Africa Foto Fair, Windsor Gallery and MuCAT – Abidjan, CI (festival)
2022 – Spazio, 10b Gallery – Rome, IT
2021 – Some of You Killed Luisa, Jiazazhi – Ningbo City, CN
2021 – Anatomia del Silenzio, Photo Open Up – Padova, IT (festival)
2020 – Anatomia del Silenzio, Museo Nivola – Orani, IT
2013 – I Used to – Fondazione Logudoro Meilogu, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea FLM. Banari, IT
GROUP SHOWS
2025 – Habitat Naturale di Violenza, Archivio Manifesto Reloaded, Site specific installation, Rome – IT
2025 – RE:Birth, Premio Mila Shortlist, Careof, Milan – IT
2025 – Cronache d’acqua, Cortona On The Move – Cortona – IT (festival)
2024 – Cronache d’acqua, Gallerie d’Italia – Torino – IT
2024 – Confluences: Intersectional Visions of Italy, Georgetown University Art Galleries – Washington,D.C. – US
2022 – Hybrids, CentroCentro – Madrid, ES
2022 – Some of You Killed Luisa, Peckham24 – London, UK
2022 – Abbecedario Fotografico, Fondazione Cassa Dei Risparmi di Forlì – IT
2021 – Hybrids, Melkweg Gallery – Amsterdam, NL
2021 – Premio Francesco Fabbri per le Arti Contemporanee – Villa Brandolini, Pieve di Soligo, IT
2019 – Athens Photo Festival, Hellenic Centre for Photography – Αthens, GR
2019 – Looking On, MAR – Museo d’Arte della città di Ravenna – IT
2018 – Futures Narratives, Unseen – Amsterdam, NL
2018 – GPF2018, Guernsey Photography Festival – UK
2018 – So Far, Landskrona Photo Festival – SE
2018 – Futures (Projection), PhotoESPAÑA – Madrid, ES
2018 – BJP Ones To Watch, Copeland Gallery – London, UK
2018 – SHOWOFF, Krakow Photomonth – Krakow, PL
2018 – Activism – Fotografia Europea – Reggio Emilia, IT
2016 – Modus Operandi – Milan, IT
2015 – SifestOFF, Savignano Immagini Festival – IT
2015 – Of People and Places – London, UK
2013 – Salon13 – Photofusion. London, UK
LECTURES (Postgraduates Courses)
2025 – Capa Center x MOME University | Budapest, HU
2025-26 – IIF, Women Today (Project leader and curator) | Milan, IT
2022 – LCC MA Documentary & Photojournalism
Guest Lecture Series | London, UK
2021 – ICP International Center of Photography │ NYC, US
2021 – University of South Wales │ Prifysgol De Cymru, UK
2019 – Women in Focus symposium: Documentary and Citizenship. The European Centre for Documentary Research
Cardiff, UK
2020-21 – RUFA Rome of University of Fine Arts | Rome, IT
2020 – HSLU Hochschule Luzern | Luzern, CH
TEACHING (Undergraduates Courses)
2020-2024 – Educator and Graphic Design Course Leader, Accademia Formativa Martesana – Gorgonzola, IT
2020 – Workshop On Silence and Omerta | Secondary School A.Mura – Orani, IT
2020 – Guest lecturer | IIS Caterina da Siena – Milan, IT
OTHER TALKS
2025 – RE:Birth, in conversation with Sonia Bisch | MEP, Paris, IT
2025 – RE:Birth, in conversation with Glores Sandri (A Doula for Palestine) and Marta Danneo (Casa delle Donne Torino) | Mucho Mas! Turin, IT
2025 – RE:Birth | Nocefresca, Milis, IT
2025 – Doppia esposizione: fotografia e scienza per raccontare il cambiamento climatico | COTM, Cortona, IT
2023 – Art et Activisme: Comment raconter la violence envers les femmes? In conversation with Valéria Thomas | MEP, Paris, FR
2022 – Encounters: Visualising kidnappings and state violence, in conversation with Rohit Saha | Peckham24, London, UK
2022 – Magazzini Fotografici | Naples, IT
2022 – Percorsi Fotosensibili | Milan, IT
2018 – Recyclart @ CENTRALE for Contemporary Art – Bruxelles, BE
2018 – Extra Fort @ Le Vecteur – Charleroi, BE
2020 – Challenging Visual Cultures: Art and Journalism in Changing Times. A conversation between Angelo Boccato, Valeria Cherchi and Ilaria Conti / Photo Vogue Festival
2021 – (RADIO) Nearest Truth, A podcast devoted to photography. In conversation with Brad Feuerhelm
2020 – (RADIO) Rai Radio 3, guest at MEDITERRADIO with Vito Biolchini
2020 – (RADIO) Radio X, CAPTIVITY, in conversation with Enrico Lixia and Tellas
2020 – www.phroommagazine.com / IG LIVE
2020 – www.10x10photobooks.org / LIVE-streaming Photobook Salons
2020 – www.studiomarangoni.it / Conference @ Home
2020 – www.phmuseum.com / Photobooks
2020 – www.ars.fondazionedisardegna.it / Appunti d’arte condivisa
2019 – Athens Photo Festival, Hellenic Centre for Photography – Αthens, GR
2019 – The Phair, Ex Borsa Valori – Turin, IT
WORKSHOPS
2025 – Photographic storytelling and critical approach | IIF, Milan (IT)
2025 – Critical Theory: The Role of Images in Society | ULILEARN (online)
2022 – Year-Long Photobook Program | NEAREST TRUTH (online)
2021 – Photographic Research, the Museum, and the Territory, with Antonella Camarda | OCCHIO LAB, Cagliari, IT
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND GRANTS:
2025 – WINNER, Strategia Fotografia Grant, with MAN – DG Creatività Contemporanea – Ministero della Cultura
2025 – SHORTLISTED, Premio Mila, Fondo Malerba per la fotografia contemporane
2024 – WINNER, Strategia Fotografia Grant – DG Creatività Contemporanea – Ministero della Cultura
2021 – WINNER, Premio Marco Bastianelli for the best Italian photo book
2021 – NOMINATED, Deutsche Börse Photography Prize
2021 – NOMINATED, Foam Paul Huf Award
2021 – SHORTLISTED, Dutch Photobook Award / Best Photo-Text Book
2020 – WINNER, Strategia Fotografia Grant, with Museo Nivola – DG Creatività Contemporanea – Ministero della Cultura
2020 – FINALIST, Premio Francesco Fabbri per le Arti Contemporanee
2019 – SELECTED, Plat(t)form 2019, Fotomuseum Winterthur
2019/20 – NOMINATED, C/O Berlin Talent Award
2019 – NOMINATED, 6×6 Global Talent Program
2019 – NOMINATED, Joop Swart Masterclass
2019 – SHORTLISTED, Foam Talent
2018 – SELECTED, British Journal of Photography, Ones To Watch
2018 – SHORTLISTED, Lucie Foundation Emerging Artist Scolarship
2018 – SELECTED, Futures-Photography
2018 – FINALIST, Guernsay International Photographic Competition
COLLECTIONS:
Fotomuseum Winterthur
Fondazione Museo Nivola
Donata Pizzi (Books)
RESIDENCIES:
2024 – Futures Hub | Amsterdam, NL
2022 – Garbatella Iamges | Rome, IT
2021 – Museo Nivola | Orani, IT
Selected links
RE:BIRTH
– INTERVIEW: The weight of the unsaid, in conversation with Angelica Venturini
– ARTICLE (Italian): Valeria Cherchi, testimoni di cura e resistenza, Veronica Daltri per il Manifesto
– VIDEO INTERVIEW (Italian): Il turbinio nelle fotografie di Georges Senga e Valeria Cherchi, RAI Piemonte
SOME OF YOU KILLED LUISA BOOK REVIEWS:
Best photobooks of 2020:
– Simon Baker on Photobookstore and Vogue Italia
– Rosy Santella on Internazionale
– Giuseppe Oliverio on PHmuseum
Other:
– Edie Peters on PhotoQ – World Press Photo
– Giada Storelli on Rivista Studio (Italian)
– Manuela Accinno on Rolling Stone (Italian)
OTHER TEXTS
e-flux: Confluences: Intersectional Visions of Italy – January 2024
e-flux: Museo Nivola presents Valeria Cherchi, Anatomy of Silence – January 2020
Valeria Cherchi, Some of you killed Luisa. Essay by Emma Lewis on 1000words Magazine – June 2018
Valeria Cherchi. Anatomia del Silenzio. Interview by Sara Benaglia on ATP Diary (Italian) – February 2020
Anatomia del silenzio. Valeria Cherchi in Sardegna. Exhibition Review on Artribune by Camilla Mattola (Italian) – February 2020
BJP, Ones to Watch: Valeria Cherchi – Article by Charlotte Jensen – May 2018
Selected clients
Financial Times, Internazionale, The New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, Wallpaper* City Guide, Freunde von Freunden, Wonderland, Flaunt, Tank, Universal Records, NTS Radio, Hyperdub Records, LVMH, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Mutina Ceramiche, Magis, Green and Blue.
Selected publications
BOOKS:
– 3350 gr. Photographs and Letters on Obstetric Violence, Mousse Publishing (2026)
– Some of You Killed Luisa, The Eriskay Connection (2020)
– Poter restare fermo, Allemandi Editore (2021)
MONOGRAPHS AND CATALOGUES:
– COTM, Exhibition Catalogue – 2025
– Confluences: Intersectional Visions of Italy, Exhibition Catalogue – 2024
– Hybrids, Exhibition Catalogue – 2022
– Garbatella Images, Spazio – Yogurt Magazine – 2022
– Some of You Killed Luisa, Photopaper 22 curated by Salvatore Vitale (2017)
– 222 Artisti emergenti su cui investire – Exibart – 2021
– Premio Francesco Fabbri per le Arti Contemporanee – Exhibition Catalogue, 2021
FEATURES:
The British Journal of Photography, Internazionale, Il Manifesto, Stern Crime, Rolling Stone, Else, Rivista Studio, Vogue.it, YET, 1000 Words Magazine.