Biography
Born in Florence, Vanni Mangoni grew up in Italy until the age of 19 when he was offered a full-scholarship from University of Southern California - in Los Angeles - for his academic and swimming achievements. At USC he studied Fine Arts and Cinema, became an All-American athlete and he graduated in 2010.
Vanni worked in Hollywood as a storyboard artist and art director for three years before he embarked on a decade-long backpacking journey which led him to many countries around the world and to absorb the culture of the peoples he met. The First Nation people of North, Central and South America, and Australian Aboriginals were the most influential encounters for Vanni, on both a human and artistic level.
It is while travelling that Vanni re-discovered a passion for drawing and painting which he quickly turned into his main focus.
Since 2020, Vanni works full-time as a visual artist, muralist and filmmaker. He refers to his work as "Mystical Symbolism".
Artist Statement
My artistic practice is rooted in a mystical, visionary approach, drawing deeply from experiences of transcendental states facilitated by shamanic rituals, meditation, and altered states of consciousness. These practices allow me to access realms beyond the ordinary, revealing archetypal symbols, geometry, and celestial visions that inform my work.
I see myself as a conduit, translating these encounters into a visual language that invites the viewer to connect with the hidden dimensions of existence.
Symbols and archetypes are central to my work; they are the ancient, universal forms that bypass the intellect and resonate on a primal level. My pieces are designed as gateways, leading the viewer inward, offering a moment of introspection and spiritual connection. Beauty also plays a crucial role in my art, not as a superficial quality but as a deliberate spiritual offering. In a contemporary landscape often dominated by critique, analysis, and fragmentation, I embrace beauty as an act of reverence, a way to honor the sacred and to offer solace.
My process of art-creation itself is a ritual—a meditative dialogue between myself and the unseen forces, where each mark and gesture becomes an invocation.
I strive to create artworks that are more than just visual experiences; they are altars for the soul, sacred objects meant to be contemplated and felt. My goal is to evoke a sense of wonder, a reminder of the divine mystery that permeates our reality, and to offer a space where the viewer can reconnect with the deeper, sacred threads of existence.
V a n n i M a n g o n i
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2005 to 2010 : University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
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Bachelor of Arts, FINE ARTS – Minor, CINEMA/TELEVISION
ATHLETICS
2008 : 1st place, PAC10 Swimming Championships, Long Beach
2007: All-American, NCAA Swimming Championships, Minnesota
2007: 1st place (200 IM), US Open Swimming Spring Championships, NY
2nd place (200 Breaststroke, 400 IM), US Open Swimming Spring Championships, NY
2005: Finalist (400IM), European Swimming Championships, Vienna
HONORS
2022: (Winner) Best Feature - Psychedelic Music and Film Festival, New York
2022: (Winner) Award of Excellence - Impact Docs Award, San Diego
2021: (Nomination) Best Documentary - Amsterdam World International Film Festival, Amsterdam
2006 to 2010: Athletic Full Scholarship, USC, Los Angeles
2007-08-09: USC Scholar-Athlete Award of Honor
2009: PAC10 All-Academic First Team
2004: Italian National Olympic Committee “Pegaso” Award for sport achievements
WORK
2012 to today: Freelance Artist, painter, designer, filmmaker
2022: Mural Artist, “La Giungla dei Sapori” at Sauro Gelateria, Lucca
2022: Mural Artist, “Escamequita Love” in Escamequita, Nicargaua
2020: Mural Artist, “Divine Dimension” at Aquaniene, Rome
2019: Co-Writer and Co-Director, documentary film “The Song That Calls You Home”, Los Angeles
2019: Assistant Editor, documentary film “Reborn: Lamar Odom”
2014: Mural Artist, “A Prayer” at Bangaolw Post Office, NSW Australia
2013: Writer-Director, short film “Familiar”
2012: Production Designer, short film “Kiss of Vengeance” – directed by Fernando Barreda Luna
2012: Art Director, short film “The Retreat” – directed by Luis Robledo
2011: Writer-Director, short film “Two For Hollywood”
2011: Storyboard Artist, feature film “The First Time” – directed by John Kasdan
2010: Storyboard Artist, music video “Sex Wichoo” – by Cedric the Soulman
2010: Storyboard Artist, TV commercial “Different but the Same” – by AllState Insurance
2010: Writer/Director, short film “Tutto Pazzo per Mary” (Ita)
EXHIBITIONS
2022: "Art After Dark" at The Brewery, San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua)
2019: “Visionary Art Exhibit” at World Ayahuasca Conference, Girona (Spain)
2017: Solo Exhibit, “Pop the Bubble” at Il Contemporaneo, Pistoia (Italy)
2016: Solo Exhibit, “L’infante” at Cafè LeBlanc, Pistoia (Italy)
2015: Solo Exhibit, “Andata & Ritorno” at Il Modreno, Pistoia (Italy)
2014: Solo Exhibit, “An Art Evening” at Kulcha Jam, Byron Bay (Australia)
2013: Solo Exhibit, “Graffite e Caffè” at Gallo Nero, Pistoia (Italy)
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