Flavia Franceschini was born in Ferrara on 8 July 1955 and lives in her native city at Via Borgo di Sotto 22.

Her D.A.M.S. Art Degree course in Bologna was followed, in 1980, by the Diploma of Carver- Cabinetmaker in the two-year course of wood carving and restoration, organized by the Region of Emilia Romagna.

She then began work as a sculptor, opening a studio-workshop in the historical centre of Ferrara.

She has taken part in many sculpture competitions/symposia in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Asiago, Auronzo and Madonna di Campiglio, as well as in group exhibitions in Italy and abroad. In 1984 she organized, with the Council Department of Cultural Affairs, the show "The Wooden Orlando, or Il laboratorio furioso" in the City Hall Square, attracting the curiosity and admiration of the local citizens.

At present, her studio is in via Carmelino, in the quiet, medieval centre of Ferrara.

The following have written about her:

"Flavia Franceschini, with her ERLINDA and CIVOLANI, sustains the evocation of the countryside through a mixed technique, in a delightful , ironical creation ranging through the avant-gard work of the Sixties."

Vittorio Sgarbi - Jury of the Cattabriga Award 1985

"Admiration and stylistic references appear to strangely link Jacopo della Quercia with Desiderio da Settignano.

Attardi with Perez, a Michelangelesque plasticism with the silhouettes of Ceroli and it is indeed strange to watch this slight, fair woman, built like a Pre-Raphaelite angel, moving among saws and mallets with an expert ability worthy of a mountain stone-cutter, while she turns out graceful female figures that often enough recall her own features.

The myth of Pygmalion is thus blended with that of Narcissus : both of which, then, are modified by the amazement of Alice in Wonderland."

Lucio Scardino - "La Piazza" 1985

"Mythological and fantastic themes run through Franceschini's art, as she creates unexpected and poetic aesthetic solutions.

Synthesis of form reaches a perfect balance between the essential and the detail, between structure and subject, the weight and consistency of wood yielding to the illusion of eternal lightness found in a fairy-tale world."

Paola Mingozzi - "Grenzpunkt" 1990

"Her statues, simple and dreamy, almost always of oneiric or mythological inspiration, often represent female figures, winged goddesses and moons hovering in space..."

Margherita Rovina - "La Nuova Ferrara" 1991

Participated in the following Exhibitions and Events:

1981 - "Expressions" - Foyer of the Boldini Theatre in Ferrara

1982 - Exhibition Hall of the Council of La Spezia

1982 - Dosso Dossi Exhibition Hall in Ferrara

1983 - Group Exhibition by invitation of Ferrarese artists - Nucleo Theatre of Ferrara

1983 - International wood sculpture competition - Cortina d'Ampezzo

1983 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1984 - Wood sculpture competition - Madonna di Campiglio

1984 - "The Wooden Orlando, or Il laboratorio furioso" - Ferrara

1985 - International wood sculpture competition - Cortina d'Ampezzo

1985 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1985 - Fédération internationale culturelle feminine - Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice

1985 - Caffè Orientale - Venice

1985 - "G. Cattabriga" Award - Bondeno, Ferrara

1986 - International wood sculpture competition - Cortina d'Ampezzo

1986 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1987 - "For Schifanoia - Esercitazioni d'arte su un mito ferrarese." Group Exhibition of Ferrarese artists by invitation- Estense Castle, Ferrara

1987 - International wood sculpture competition - Cortina d'Ampezzo

1987 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1987 - "Eight Italian Sculptors" - Sculpture Centre - Kemijarvi (Finland)

1988 - International wood sculpture competition - Cortina d'Ampezzo

1988 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1988 - Group Exhibition of Ferrarese Artists by invitation - Masitorello (Ferrara)

1988 - Buchmesse International Exhibition - Frankfürt

1989 - First Wood Sculpture Exhibition - Auronzo

1990 - "For Isabella" - Mantova Castle

1990 - "The Apprentice and The Artist" Boldini Grotte, Ferrara

1991 - The Niccolini Award. Palazzo Crema, Ferrara

1991 - "Grenzpunkt" The Ephemeral in Art - Ferrara

1991 - "Earth and Water" - Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad

1991 - "Out of Place" - Photographic section, Ferrara

1991 - Sculpture Symposium - Asiago

1995 - "Cloudsweeper" Set design for the Theatre Group G.I.O.I.A

1996 - "Il G.G.G." Set design for the Theatre Group G.I.O.I.A

1997 - Photography Competition "Piera Pirani" - 2nd Prize with two special mentions

1997 - "The Time Travellers" Set design for the Theatre Group G.I.O.I.A

1998 - "Spirit of Romania" Dance set design - City Hall Square, Ferrara

1999 - "The Canvas of Destiny" Set design - The New Theatre of Ferrara

2000 - "The Moon" Set design for "The Silver Thread" - The New Theatre of Ferrara

2001 - "Hansel e Gretel" Set design - The Boldini theatre of Ferrara

2001 - Photography Competition "Piera Pirani"-II prize

2002 - "Arabesque"- Dance set design for "Choreographic Mosaic"
Municipal theatre and The New Theatre of Ferrara

2002 - Photographic Competition "Piera Pirani"- I prize and one special mention

Flavia Franceschini, via Borgo di Sotto 22, 44100 Ferrara, e-mail: flaviafranceschini@arte.it