Mariagrazia Pontorno was born in Catania in 1978. She lives and works in Rome.
Mariagrazia's research is focused on the relationship between art/science and contemporaneity/tradition, using nature as a symbolic element. Thanks to the use of sophisticated softwares of video animation, the artist builds life-like settings inspired by a vision where the borders between fiction and reality are lyrically blurred. In front of these artificial doubles the spectator experiences a short circuit of the sight.
In the artist's recent video works, the intersection between digitally reconstructed fiction and archival images has become more complex. Starting from the historical fact she reaches paradoxical events, in a visual continuum. She last released her first long feature movie, Nobilis Golden Moon, devoted to the relationship between scientific and magical thoughts. Since 2004 she has taught Multimedia at the Fine Arts Academies and from 2018 she teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.
In 2016 she was in residency at BoCs Art in Cosenza.

Solo exhibitions (selection): Floating Lab, Galleria Passaggi, Pisa, 2018; Mariagrazia Pontorno, Fondazione Noesi, Martina Franca (TA), 2015; I Cieli di Berlino, Nomos Value Research, Rome, 2015; Tutto ciò che so, Galleria Passaggi, Pisa, 2014; Axis, Floracult - I casali del pino, Rome, 2012; Rinascenze, 5 artist’s displays for La Rinascente, in collaboration with Museo RISO, Palermo, 2011; Spighe comete, Casa Musumeci Greco, Rome, 2011; Volincielo, Murat 122, Bari / AOCF58, Rome, 2011; Roots, Lithium Project, Not Gallery, Naples, 2011; Matera 2019, una porta sulla città, Sassi di Matera, 2009; Scaffoldings, Harlem Studio Fellowship, New York, 2009; Il giardino di Maresa, MLAC, Rome, 2007; Forme dellʼimmateriale, Studio Morbiducci, Rome, 2006; Alice Hair Deflector, Galleria Monitor, Rome, 2004.

Group exhibitions (selection): Maritima01, CCCC, Valencia, 2020; Nobilis Golden Moon, Loop Barcelona, 2020; Media Art Festival, MAXXI, Rome, 2017; Stanze di carta, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Rome, 2017; Into the Wood, Ex-Comac, Soverato (CZ), 2016; Mimesi: Architetture in Natura, Convento di S. Francesco, Monsampolo del Tronto (AP), 2016; Media Art Festival, MAXXI, Rome, 2016; XVI Premio Cairo, Palazzo della Permanente, Milan, 2015; Something Else, Off Biennale, Cairo, 2015; In che senso italiano? (Ancora!), Bibo’s Place, Todi (PG), 2015; SIMPLICITY TO COMPLEXITY: Building towards the future while reflecting on the past, Ana Nisi Masa Gallery / John Cabot University, Rome, 2014; Beyond Beyond the Brillo Box, Galerie Royal, Monaco, 2014; Videofusion, Palazzo Barnaba, Martina Franca (TA), 2013; C’è una piccola radice che se la masticate, vi spuntano le ali immediatamente, MAC – Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Lissone, 2013; Italienische Kunst Heute, Stadtgalerie, Kiel, 2012; Un’opera per il castello, Museo di Castel S. Elmo, Naples, 2012; Re-Generation, MACRO, Rome, 2012; 5 mostre al CIAC, CIAC, Castello Colonna, Genazzano (RM), 2011; Agorazein-Rambling Roots, Cisterne Romane, Todi (PG), 2011; Nascor. Tra arte e natura 2, Fondazione Noesi, Martina Franca (TA), 2011; Frame by Frame, Museo RISO, Palermo, 2011; Animacall, Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 2011; My generation – Under 35, Museo Pietro Canonica, Rome, 2010; Lithium Preview, Not Gallery, Naples, 2010; Germinazioni, Palazzo della Penna, Perugia, 2009; S.A.C.S. video night, Museum RISO, Palermo, 2009; HARLEM HOAST 2009 - Harlem Open Artists’ Studios Tour, HSF, New York, 2009; SerrOne, Biennale Giovani Monza, Serrone della Villa Reale, Monza, 2009; PATHOS/NOMOS/LOGOS, Civica Galleria Montevergini, Ortigia (SR), 2009; Wunderkammern Opening Party, Wunderkammern Gallery, Rome, 2008; Nawafeth, National Museum, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), 2007; Equidistanze, Rialto Santambrogio, Rome, 2006; Art Bubbles, San Salvario, Turin, 2005; XII Biennal of Young Artists from Europe and Mediterranean, Castel Sant’Elmo, Naples, 2005; La mossa delle idee – International Exhibition of Videoart, Sala Santa Rita, Rome, 2004; Premio Arte Digitale Dino Villani, Linguaggi e tecniche della contemporaneità, Suzzara (MN), 2004; Festival of Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo Venezia, Rome, 2004; International Festival of the Art Cinema, Bergamo, 2003.