How many stories can be told by an illustration, a place where images and words meet? And how can words transcend the limits of communication precisely through the figurative power of images? These questions gave rise to the project Tell Me Something Beautiful, a solo exhibition by illustrator Fabio Magnasciutti organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago.
Characterized by a unique and highly personal style, Magnasciutti’s illustrations oscillate between deep emotional engagement and, at times, irreverent irony, offering glimpses of everyday life. Together, they form an ever-evolving mosaic that presents a complex yet recognizable image of contemporary society. In this selection of artworks, words and images become inseparable parts of the same narrative, which is universal and cross-cultural, capable of speaking to the audience beyond the limits of strictly verbal communication. Divided into four thematic sections, the exhibition offers viewers a reflection on interpersonal relationships and how these impact the future of society.
Opening Reception
Friday, November 1 at 6-8:00pm
The exhibition will be inaugurated with a celebratory event, attended by the artist.
Opening Hours
Monday through Friday, from 11:00am to 4:00pm
For groups or after hours visit, email iicchicago@esteri.it
The Workshop
Between October 24 and November 1, Fabio Magnasciutti will lead a workshop with 40 students of Columbia College Chicago, in collaboration with artist and professor Cecilia Beaven. Students will learn the grattage technique to create original illustrations, that will be included in a dedicated section of the exhibition Tell Me Something Beautiful.
Fabio Magnasciutti, born in Rome on May 11, 1966, is an illustrator and cartoonist with numerous books to his credit, published by Giunti, Curci, Lapis, Barta, and others. His collaborations include La Repubblica, L’Unità, Il Fatto Quotidiano, Gli Altri, Linus, and Left, for which he currently designs covers and cartoons. He worked on opening sequences and animations for the Italian TV programs Che tempo che fa (starting from the 2007 editions and onwards) and Pane quotidiano (RAI 3). He also created illustrations for AnnoZero (2010-2011) and Servizio Pubblico. Magnasciutti has received various awards, including the Best Cartoonist Award in 2015 at the Museum of Satire in Forte dei Marmi. He teaches editorial illustration at IED in Rome and, in 2005, founded the illustration school Officina B5.
In 1993, he founded the band Her Pillow, where he is the vocalist and harmonica player.
