Annalaura di Luggo

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Annalaura di Luggo (born 1970, Naples) is an Italian multimedia artist and filmmaker known for combining sculpture, photography, and digital media in works addressing social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and human perception. [1] Her practice often centers on the symbolism of the eye and vision, using interactive installations to explore identity, diversity, and human connection. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Di Luggo was born in Naples, Italy, where she continues to live and work. Originally trained in painting, she expanded her artistic practice to include photography and new media, developing a visual language that integrates technology with social commentary. [3]

Career

Her artistic journey spans multimedia research, photography, video, and film direction. Her works and installations merge technology with craftsmanship, transforming viewers into active participants and inviting them to reflect on social and environmental issues. Most of her artistic research centers on the human and animal eye [4] [5] . Her Intro-Spectio series constitutes a cycle of works that investigates the relationship between vision and interiority, articulated through both static and dynamic multimedia installations. Over the years, the artist has explored themes such as human rights (for the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation [6] ), incarceration (Never Give Up for the Juvenile Penitentiary of Nisida [7] [8] ), blindness (Blind Vision [9] ), presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2018, and disability (Oculus-Spei, commissioned by the Pantheon, Rome, in 2024 [10] ). She has also focused on youth issues including bullying and addiction (Collòculi, presented at the Museo Nazionale Romano [11] and at the Parco Archeologico di Pompei [12] ). Her research has further extended to the animal world, nature, and biodiversity, notably within the context of the 58th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (Dominican Republic Pavilion, 2019), where she exhibited Genesis and the video Narratur. [13] Her work has been discussed by art critics and cultural scholars including Her work has been the subject of essays by prominent art critics and cultural figures, including Paco Barragán, Raisa Clavijo, Hap Erstein, Timothy Hardfield, Stephen Knudsen, Paul Laster, Ivan D’Alberto, Stefano Biolchini, Francesco Gallo, Irene Galuppo, Demetrio Paparoni Aldo Gerbino, Giulia Gueci, Angelo Mistrangelo, Marcello Palminteri, , Gabriele Perretta, Nicoletta Provenzano, Antonello Tolve, Vincenzo Trione, and Andrea Viliani. Monographs and exhibition catalogues on her work have been published by Artium Publishing (Miami), Silvana Editoriale, JUS Museum Edizioni, Sala Editori, and Artem. Her works are regularly showcased in major national and international art fairs and are included in public and private collections worldwide.

Relevant Works and Multimedia Installations

Intro-Spectio

Intro-Spectio is a cycle of artworks by Annalaura di Luggo dedicated to exploring the relationship between vision and interiority through both static and dynamic formats. The works employ photographic images, plexiglass, aluminum (dibond), and video projections to create multilayered compositions that unfold across shifting visual planes. Centered on the recurring motif of the iris—often placed in correspondence with the heart area—the series reflects on the gaze as a means of awareness, empathy, and connection.

The series has been presented in several major institutional venues, including the Museo Nazionale Romano – Terme di Diocleziano in Rome, the Complesso Monumentale dello Steri – Palazzo Chiaramonte in Palermo, and the PAN – Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, among others.

Oculus-Spei

Oculus-Spei is an interactive multimedia installation by Italian artist Annalaura di Luggo, first presented inside the Pantheon in Rome from December 2024 to March 2025. The work is inspired by the symbolism of the Holy Doors traditionally opened during the Jubilee year.

Commissioned by the Pantheon for the 2025 Jubilee, the installation takes the form of five virtual doors. The first four engage people with disabilities from different parts of the world, who become protagonists of a luminous and participatory dialogue. The fifth door employs gesture-recognition cameras to project the visitor’s own image behind virtual bars. A beam of light breaks the barrier, symbolically transforming the experience into one of liberation, forgiveness, and spiritual awakening.

Presented under the patronage of the 2025 Jubilee and the Italian Ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs, and Justice, Oculus-Spei was experienced by more than two million visitors during its exhibition at the Pantheon. [14] [15]

Annalaura di Luggo also directed the short film Oculus-Spei, which blends the installation’s visual elements with personal testimonies on hope and shared spirituality. The film qualified "for consideration" for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Short category. [16] [17]

Oculus-Spei Exhibitions

Oculus-Spei Fragmenta

Colloculi > We Are Art

In 2022, the artist creates "Colloculi > We Are Art," curated by Gabriele Perretta, and exposed at the Banco di Napoli Foundation until September 2022. [23]

“Colloculi” is an immersive, multi-media, interactive art installation constructed in the shape of a Giant Eye made of recycled aluminum, symbolizing environmental rebirth and recycling. [24]

Through the pupil is projected the Multimedia installation "We Are Art". The starting point are the eyes of four young adults, who reveal through the languages of video art, sound design and immersive reality, how they overcame adversities such as bullying, racial discrimination, blindness, alcohol and crime allowing the viewer in the gallery, through virtual technology, to interact and become part of the installation.

The creative process is narrated in the documentary We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura directed by the same artist.

Blind Vision

Blind Vision arises from Annalaura di Luggo’s interest in exploring the universe of people who perceive the world with senses other than sight. The multimedia installation (permanently displayed at the Museum of the P. Colosimo Institute in Naples), focuses on the sense of sight, by exhibiting the eyes of a group of 20 totally or partially blind people. It was shown at the Basel Art Fair, [25] in New York, [26] Cortina d’Ampezzo, [27] Naples, [28] [29] [30] and at the United Nations. [31] Today it is permanent at Colosimo Museum Naples. [32] It showed the eyes of a group of 20 totally or partially blind people. [33] [34] It was reviewed by Paul Laster, [35] Paco Barragan, [36] and Timothy Hadfield. [37]

Napoli Eden

Napoli Eden is a set of four site-specific monumental installations open to the public held across four squares (Piazza Municipio, Galleria Umberto I, Largo Baracche, Largo Santa Caterina), in the city of Naples, Italy. [38] This project inspired the creation of the feature docu-film “Napoli Eden”, based on a concept by Annalaura di Luggo directed by Bruno Colella with music by Eugenio Bennato, cinematography by Blasco Giurato, creative consultancy by Stanley Isaacs [39] and marketing consultancy by Greg Ferris. It was inspired by the true story of the artist when she decided to install her artworks and to involve some troubled youngs from the Spanish Quarters of Naples in the construction of Pyramid, [40] a metallic tree of 10 meters, made by aluminum scraps to stimulate new life prospects and "a journey towards the light".

Napoli Eden premiered in Rome at the Arena Adriano studios [41] and was qualified as “Film d’essai”. The film won various awards at international festivals, including: Impact DOCS Awards California; Hollywood Gold Awards 2020; L’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival 2020; Venice Film Awards 2020 and a special mention of the critical jury at Social World Film Festival 2020. [42]

Napoli Eden has passed the admission selection to the 93rd Academy Awards and qualified for consideration for documentary feature. [43]

Never Give up

In 2015 For several days, the artist worked with ten inmates at the Nisida Juvenile Detention Center, involving them in a series of performative acts designed to convey, through art, new perspectives on freedom. From these performances, the exhibition and the permanent multimedia installation within the Nisida facility took shape.

Selected exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

Group exhibitions

Filmography

Oculus-Spei (2025)

The short film Oculus-Spei qualified "for consideration" for the 2026 Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Short category. [44]

Qualifications
Nominations

We Are Art. Through the Eyes of Annalaura (2023)

We Are Art. Through the Eyes of Annalaura was qualified "for consideration" for the 2022 Academy Awards in the categories Best Documentary Feature and Best Original Song. [46]

Qualifications
Nominations

Blind Vision (2022)

Awards – Best Documentary

Napoli Eden (2021)

Qualifications
Awards – Best Documentary

Narratur (2019)

Never Give Up (2016)

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (2022-11-09). "Cinedigm Acquires Three Annalaura di Luggo Documentaries Out of AFM (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  2. ↑ Bowling, Suzanna (2022-09-24). "For Your Consideration: We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura | Times Square Chronicles" . Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  3. ↑ "We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura Director-Star Annalaura di Luggo on Highlighting Social Inclusion in Her Film Work and Music - M&E - Media and Entertainment". mande.net. 2022-12-14. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  4. ↑ "SEA VISIONS BY ANNALURA DI LUGGO". Yachting Media. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Annalaura di Luggo : Sea Visions, 7 punti di vista". Tuttobarche (in Italian). 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  6. ↑ Nazione, La (2017-11-06). "Firenze, Palazzo Vecchio: serata di gala della Fondazione Robert F. Kennedy. Le foto". La Nazione (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  7. ↑ "Carcere di Nisida, le iridi dei ragazzi diventano mostra permanente". Corriere TV. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  8. ↑ ""Never Give Up", 2nd Act, The Donation". Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  9. ↑ "Blind Vision Review". ArtPulse Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  10. ↑ "Oculus-Spei al Pantheon" . Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  11. ↑ "Collòculi – Intro-Spectio" . Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  12. ↑ "Collòculi @ Pompei" . Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  13. ↑ "Biennale di Venezia, l'artista napoletana Annalaura Di Luggo partecipa con "Genesis"". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  14. ↑ https://www.pantheonroma.com/2024/12/06/oculus-spei-installaton-pantheon-rome/
  15. ↑ https://cultura.gov.it/evento/oculus-spei-di-annalaura-di-luggo
  16. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37535274/
  17. ↑ https://letterboxd.com/kenru/list/2025-oscar-documentary-short-films-submissions/
  18. ↑ https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/it/notizie/dalle-diocesi/2025/oculus-spei-installazione-multimediale-interattiva-pantheon.html
  19. ↑ https://artemagazine.it/oculus-spei-viaggio-nella-luce-al-pantheon-di-roma/
  20. ↑ https://www.juliet-artmagazine.com/events/oculus-spei-annalaura-di-luggo-2/
  21. ↑ https://www.firstonline.info/en/contemporary-art-at-the-chapel-of-the-shroud-a-multimedia-installation-and-the-five-holy-doors-by-annalaura-di-luggo/
  22. ↑ https://segnonline.it/oculus-spei-larte-contemporanea-approda-nella-cappella-della-sindone/
  23. ↑ Annidyufficiostampa. "Annalaura di Luggo - Colloculi". exibart.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  24. ↑ "Colloculi > We Are Art alla Fondazione Banco di Napoli - Campania". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  25. ↑ "Blind Vision di Annalaura di Luggo". Dodici Magazine. 7 December 2017.
  26. ↑ "Blind vision - Mostre a Mostra Fuori Italia dal 11 giugno 2018 al 15 giugno 2018". www.ioarte.org.
  27. ↑ "Sci e impegno sociale: Blind Vision al GIS di Cortina". Dodici Magazine. 4 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "Con oltre 15.000 visitatori chiude " BLIND VISION " di Annalaura di Luggo". Terronian Magazine (in Italian). 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  29. ↑ "15mila per Blind Vision, il progetto di Annalaura Di Luggi va in tournée". www.ilmattino.it. 17 January 2018.
  30. ↑ "Più di mille visitatori per "Blind Vision" a Napoli". La Repubblica. 11 December 2017.
  31. ↑ "L'installazione napoletana di "Blind Vision" sbarca all'Onu". Repubblica.it. 12 June 2018.
  32. ↑ ""Blind Vision", all'Istituto Colosimo l'intallazione di Annalaura di Luggo". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  33. ↑ Redazione (11 April 2017). "'Blind Vision', ovvero, l'arte esplora il mondo dei non vedenti".
  34. ↑ Giraud, Claudia (10 December 2017). "Disabilità. Un'installazione a Napoli per far vedere il mondo di chi non vede".
  35. ↑ "ARTPULSE MAGAZINE » Reviews » Blind Vision".
  36. ↑ Barragan http://artishockrevista.com/2017/06/08/blind-vision-la-disyuntiva-ver-no-ver/
  37. ↑ "An Exhibition About Blindness Engages All the Senses". Hyperallergic. 9 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Napoli Eden, Annalaura di Luggo dall'arte al film". La Repubblica. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  39. ↑ "Creative Being Interview - Artist Annalaura di Luggo with Director & Producer Stanley Isaacs". Spreaker. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  40. ↑ "Napoli Eden, l'armonia delle sculture nel caos di città". Il Sole 24 ORE (in Italian). 14 December 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  41. ↑ "Napoli Eden: il docufilm di Annalaura Di Luggo per l'inaugurazione dell'Arena Estiva Adriano-Studios - Guarda il video". ComingSoon.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  42. ↑ ildenaro.it (2020-08-10). "Sette premi internazionali per "Napoli Eden" di Annalaura di Luggo e Bruno Colella". Ildenaro.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  43. ↑ Pond, Steve (2020-12-22). "Oscars Documentary Race Tops 200 Entries to Shatter Old Record (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  44. ↑ https://letterboxd.com/kenru/list/2025-oscar-documentary-short-films-submissions/
  45. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37535274/
  46. ↑ https://reelnewsdaily.com/2022/09/15/documentary-review-we-are-art-through-the-eyes-of-annalaura-finds-emotional-catharsis-in-creation/
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