Mariel Capanna

Mariel Capanna is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Art Department at Swarthmore College and Fresco Instructor at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Her work as a visual artist has been exhibited nationally and internationally with galleries including Adams and Ollman (Portland, OR), Central Park (Los Angeles, CA), Gross McCleaf Gallery (Philadelphia, PA), and Good Weather (North Little Rock, AR).

Her educational background includes an MFA from Yale University (2020), BFA and Certificate of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (2012-2013), and studies at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2017) and Mountain School of Art (2016).

• Yale School of Art, Painting, MFA 2020
• Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, 2017
• Mountain School of Art, 2016
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, BFA 2012, Certificate of Fine Arts, 2013

Capanna's artistic practice centers on painting, with a particular specialization in fresco technique. Her work explores memory, history, and the passage of time through visual representation. She often works from family photographs, using her memory to recapture elements onto wet plaster before it dries. Her installations engage with the concept of collective memory and the durability of fresco as an artistic medium that withstands the burden of time. The ancient process of fresco painting that she revives adds another layer to her thematic exploration of history and memory.

Her recent works demonstrate a continued exploration of everyday objects and scenes rendered in vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. These paintings often feature domestic items, outdoor settings, and personal artifacts arranged in unexpected juxtapositions that invite viewers to consider the narratives behind these ordinary moments. The works show a progression in scale and complexity, with some pieces reaching monumental dimensions like the 60 x 77" "Fly Rod, Baseball Glove, Wooden Palette, Eye" from 2023.

Her notable awards and fellowships include:

• Independence Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
• Mellon Post-MFA Fellow in Studio Art at Williams College (2021-2023)
• Robert Schoelkopf Memorial Traveling Fellowship
• Katherine Beinecke Michel Scholarship

Capanna has been an artist in residence at numerous institutions including the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Haverford College, and the Guapamacátaro Art and Ecology Residency in Michoacan, Mexico. She has received grants from the Independence Foundation and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. As an educator, she has served as Fresco Instructor at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and currently teaches painting courses at Swarthmore College including Painting I, Painting II, and Fresco Painting. Her teaching emphasizes the historical techniques of fresco painting while encouraging contemporary applications.

One of her most significant ongoing projects is "Little Stone, Open Home," a permanent fresco installation at Good Weather gallery in North Little Rock, Arkansas. This evolving work serves as a testing ground for fresco painting and conservation techniques, and provides a forum for collaboration through public tours, workshops, and community programming. The installation transforms a single-car garage into a participant-guided gallery where Capanna works from family photo albums, using memory to recapture elements onto wet plaster. This project exemplifies her commitment to making art accessible and collaborative, as she graciously allows students and visitors to add to the mural.