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CONTACTS

write to: daniele.catalli (at) gmail.com

Representation

For publishing rights please contact Daniela Bonerba

Bio

Daniele Catalli is a (pick one or more)

multidisciplinary
visual
artist
scenographer
designer
illustrator
performer

whose practice moves across drawing, installation, publishing, performance, wall painting, and public and relational art.

His research explores the intersections of culture, environment and collective narratives, and the ways in which cultural, historical and technological systems shape our perception of the natural world.

Projects such as Saluti e Baci combine sociological research with participatory practices to address the relationship between human behaviour and environmental impact.

Central to his work is the tension between part and whole: each element of a work can exist on its own, yet finds its full meaning only in relation to the whole, like a musical note whose value shifts as the harmony changes. Drawing is the foundation of his practice and his primary tool of investigation; the image is treated as a transformable organism, able to evolve while keeping its identity.

In 2011 he started the Dream Circus Project, and in 2021 he founded the Museo del Sogno (Museum of Dreams). He is also a co-founder of Le Stanze Segrete di S., a company exploring the relationship between performance and drawing.

Books and printed matter play a central role in his practice. His books have been published in Italy, Spain, China, the United States, France and Mexico.

He is a lecturer at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Turin and runs workshops in institutions and schools.

He lives and works in Turin, Italy.

Areas of Interest

Printed matters and books
Fairytales as metafora per il contemporaneo
Relationship between images-society-memory
Image as organisms
Paper engineering
Story telling as art practice
Illustrated reportage
Ongoing projects and explorations
Untold stories

Member of

ADAGP, société des auteurs dans les arts graphiques et plastiques

Works in Collections

Museo della Carta di Fabriano IT, Inteatro Festival IT, Mifav IT, Oslo National Academy of the Arts Library Swarthmore College UK, Lafayette College UK, Internationale Jugendbibliothek Munich (DE), State Library NSW, Museo della Scuola Torino, Alliance Française Torino.

Publications

2026

Le immagini del profumo, illustrated book, illustrations. Text by Matteo Fumagalli, L'ippocampo, Milan

Tenerife, illustrated reportage, text and drawings. Brainery Academy, Udine

Popeye, collective volume, illustration. Rag Doll, Rome

2025

Gastronauta en México, illustrated book, cover and 12 illustrations. Text by Federico Mastrogiovanni, Grijalbo / Penguin Random House, Mexico City

2024

Ayotzinapa y nuestras sombras, illustrated book, illustrations. Text by Federico Mastrogiovanni, Grijalbo / Penguin Random House, Mexico City

Shakespeare and Company, special edition, illustrations. Turin

2023–2024

Classici in scena series, seven boxed sets with illustrated book and paper theatre, illustrations and theatres. 24 ORE Cultura, Milan: Inferno, Romeo e Giulietta (2023); Dracula, Frankenstein, Orgoglio e pregiudizio, Pinocchio, I promessi sposi (2024)

2023

Le metamorfosi di Ovidio, illustrated book with die-cut pages, illustrations. Text by Alice Patrioli, L'ippocampo, Milan

2022

Hokusai et le Fujisan, picture book, illustrations. Text by Eva Bensard, Amaterra, Lyon; Italian edition L'ippocampo, Milan

Senza Testa. Breve storia della decapitazione in rime e disegni, illustrated book with red filter, drawings (co-author). Verses by Lucio Villani, Red Star Press, Rome

2021

Yvain, picture book, illustrations. Text by Isabelle Wlodarczyk, Amaterra, Lyon

2019

Romeo + Juliet, artist's edition, 400 copies, drawings. After William Shakespeare, DFRG Press, Turin

A Midsummer Night's Dream, artist's edition, 400 copies (reissue), drawings. After William Shakespeare, DFRG Press, Turin

2018

Elektre, picture book, illustrations. Text by S. Gerinte, Amaterra, Lyon

Di ferite stelle, artist's book, 10 copies, drawings and concept. Text by Laura Anfuso, DFRG Press, Turin

2017

La bataille des grenouilles et des souris, picture book with die-cut pages, text and illustrations. After Homer, Amaterra, Lyon; Italian edition La battaglia delle rane e dei topi, L'ippocampo, Milan, 2018

2016

La Balada de Caperucita, artist's book, unique copy, drawings. After Federico García Lorca, self-published, Cagliari

2015

100 drawings, collection of drawings, author

2014

A Midsummer Night's Dream, artist's edition, drawings. After William Shakespeare, DFRG Press, London – Turin

2014

Through the Woods, artist's edition, author. DFRG Press, London

Del lavoro & della morte, artist's edition, thirteen tarot cards, author. Print About Me, Turin

2013

24 Senza Testa, artist's edition, drawings. Verses by Lucio Villani, Print About Me, Turin

Attraverso il bosco, artist's edition, author. Turin

Events

2026

Saluti e Baci, installation, Graphic Days festival, Turin

Saluti e Baci – Il peso dell'aria, performance and installation, CLOSER – Becoming the City, Padiglione dell'Esprit Nuovo, Bologna (curated by Adiacenze)

The Night, group exhibition, Asia Design Week, Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan (Fuorisalone)

Trattoria Altravista, group exhibition, 5 Vie, Milan (Fuorisalone)

2025

Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2025, touring group exhibition: The Salisbury Museum; Cooper Gallery, Dundee; Waterside, Sale; Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge

2024

Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2024, group exhibition: Trinity Buoy Wharf, London; The Turnpike, Leigh; Arts University Bournemouth

Saluti e Baci, solo exhibition, installation and performance, Inteatro Festival, Ancona

Stanza numero 5, solo exhibition, installation and performance, Inteatro Festival, Ancona

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Espacio Checoeslovaquia, Santiago de Chile

Dream Circus Project, performance, Santiago OFF festival, Santiago de Chile

La Ville Imaginaire, group exhibition, Italie à Paris, Paris (curated by Clara Rizzitelli)

War tells no good stories. Picture books for peace, group exhibition, International Youth Library, Schloss Blutenburg, Munich

Oggetto Libro, touring group exhibition, Lecce, Brindisi, Trani, Taranto (curated by Susanna Vallebona)

Apolide Festival, group exhibition, Ivrea

2023

Delle città come dei sogni, solo exhibition, Casa della Cultura Italo Calvino, Calderara di Reno (curated by Adiacenze)

Mirabolante esposizione di fenomeni naturali e de Le Metamorfosi di Ovidio, solo exhibition, Adiacenze, Bologna (curated by Amerigo Mariotti)

Mirabolante esposizione di fenomeni naturali e de Le Metamorfosi di Ovidio, solo exhibition, Noi Libreria, Milan

Mirabolante esposizione di fenomeni naturali, solo exhibition, Progetti Specifici, Turin

For All Time: Shakespeare in Print, group exhibition, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney

Inferno, solo exhibition, Pressato Coffee and Books, Turin (curated by Nello Russo)

2022

I Notturni, installation and solo exhibition, Spilamberto Public Library, Prospettive 2022 (curated by Adiacenze)

Dream #1, billboard, public art intervention, Corso Vercelli, Turin

Tracce d'Acqua, group exhibition, Villa Nigra, Miasino (curated by Asilo Bianco)

2021

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Lungo Dora, Turin (with Politecnico di Torino, Epica Film, Museo del Sogno)

2019

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Almost Perfect, Tokyo

Daniele Catalli, solo exhibition, performance and talk, Some Books Gallery, Seoul

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Un Ponte di Storie festival, Ponte in Valtellina

La battaglia delle rane e dei topi, solo exhibition and book presentation, Un Ponte di Storie festival, Ponte in Valtellina

2018

Fare la guerra, solo exhibition, Adiacenze, Bologna

Una sola moltitudine, solo exhibition, Galleria Caracol, Turin (curated by Federico Cano Correa)

2017

Discesa, performance, Segni d'infanzia festival, Mantua

Senza Testa, performance, Turin (curated by Francesco La Rocca)

2016

Meduse, installation, Paris

Inteatro, performance, Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona

2014

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, LX Factory, Lisbon (curated by Angelika Fitz and Rose Epple)

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Pasaj / ITU / Halka Art, Istanbul (curated by Giorgio Caione)

Dream Circus Project, performance, Grad – European Center for Culture and Debate, Belgrade (curated by Arteco)

Dream Circus Project, performance, Contemporary Art Center, Skopje (curated by Arteco and CAC)

Dream Circus Project, performance, DoubleRoom, Trieste

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Operae, Turin (curated by Arteco, Annalisa Pellino)

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition and performance, Circolo degli Artisti, Turin (curated by Arteco, Annalisa Pellino)

Dream Circus Project, solo exhibition, Spazio N.B., Turin (curated by Arteco, Annalisa Pellino)

2013

24 senza testa, performance, Van Der Gallery, Turin (curated by Stefano Riba)

Danza al Museo / Inteatro, performance, Museo della Carta, Fabriano

2012

Dream Circus in Amsterdam, solo exhibition and performance, AWA Gallery, Amsterdam (curated by Go Go Project, E. Verhamme)

Dream Circus, performance, Dokhuis, Amsterdam

Dream Circus Project, performance, The Gate, Calamandrana (curated by Bianca Roagna)

2011

Dream Circus, installation, group exhibition, Seminaria Sogninterra, Maranola

Mirabolante esposizione di metamorfosi, solo exhibition, Emmeotto Next Gallery, Rome (curated by Isabella Indolfi)

2007

C.R. Cappuccetto Rosso, performance, Creative Art Center, Beijing

S.B. Sleeping Beauty, performance, Palazzo delle Arti, Pescara

Residencies

2024

J&H, artist residency with final performance, Espacio Checoeslovaquia, Santiago de Chile (Marche Teatro, Crossing the Sea)

2023

The Earth Vision, self-organised printmaking research residency, Soho, London

2022

I Notturni, production residency with final exhibition, Rocca Rangoni, Spilamberto (Prospettive 2022, curated by Adiacenze)

2022

The Big Green, artist residency

2016

Casa Falconieri, etching residency (SetUp Art Fair Etching Award), Cagliari

Freezer Residency Program, artist residency with performance

2015

Inteatro, artist residency, Ancona

2014

Dream Circus Project, artist residency with solo exhibition and performance, Pasaj, Istanbul

2013

Festival Villa Nappi, artist residency with performance, Polverigi

Danza al Museo / Inteatro, artist residency with performance, Museo della Carta, Fabriano

2012

Dream Circus in Amsterdam, artist residency with solo exhibition and performance, AWA Gallery and Dokhuis, Amsterdam

Gebrauchsanweisung 3, artist residency, Gartenhaus Dingerkus, Essen

2011

Gebrauchsanweisung 1, artist residency with performance, TanzAtelier, Kunsthaus Essen

El amor en el tiempo, residency: animated video for the performance by Irene Huete Lopez, Essen

Istruzioni per l'uso, artist residency, Inteatro, Polverigi (with Elena Kofina)

Dream Circus, residency with group exhibition, Seminaria Sogninterra, Maranola

2006

Epidemia2, artist residency, Collegno

2025

International Painter of Tai Chi Movement Innovation, recognition for the project Forms of Movement. China Tai Chi Professional Committee, China

2024

Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Working Drawing Award, drawing prize: selected, touring exhibition. London

Prix Vély'book, children's book award: Best Illustration and Special Jury Prize, for Hokusai et le Fujisan. Vélizy-Villacoublay

2023

Prix Atout Lire, picture book award, for Hokusai et le Fujisan. France

2022

Prix Amerigo Vespucci Jeunesse, children's book award, for Hokusai et le Fujisan. Festival International de Géographie, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges

2020

Premio Racconto Plurale, contemporary art award. Fondazione per l'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea CRT, Turin

2019

Premio Soligatto, picture book award: Best Album and Best Cover. Treviso

2018

Prix de l'album jeunesse, children's book award, for La bataille des grenouilles et des souris. La Nuit du Livre, Paris

2016

Etching Award, printmaking prize with residency at Casa Falconieri. SetUp Art Fair, Bologna

2014

Best Project, project award, for Dream Circus Project. WeTraders Berlin, Kunstraum Bethanien, Berlin

Best Concept, artist's book award. Art Books Wanted Competition, Prague

2010

Best Production Design Award, production design prize. Rome Film Festival

Last Updated 26.10.15

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