The article profiles Bona de Mandiargues, an overlooked Italian Surrealist artist whose work is finally gaining international recognition. Her major debut occurred at the 2024 Venice Biennale, and her first U.K. solo show is now on view at Alison Jacques gallery in London through June 28. The exhibition focuses on her mature period (1975–1995), featuring dark, erotic, and occult-inspired collages and assemblages that challenge gender norms.
This matters because de Mandiargues is part of a broader reclamation of women Surrealists who were historically marginalized. Her inclusion in landmark exhibitions like the Venice Biennale and the Centre Pompidou's centenary survey "Surrealism" signals a shift in art-historical canon. Her work—which transforms personal trauma and esoteric symbolism into provocative, visceral art—offers a fresh perspective on Surrealism's legacy and underscores the ongoing effort to recover forgotten female artists.