Italian born artist and former UCG lecturer Laura Vecchi Forde is exhibiting her work at Salthill’s Norman Villa Gallery until Saturday, March 3. The show opens this week.

Laura, who was born in Italy in 1939, studied Art at the Brera Academy in Milan. Her early work, described as tending towards hard-edged surrealism, was first shown in an individual exhibition in Pidemont in 1967.

That same year she moved to Galway to teach in the University’s Italian Department. For over 30 years, she taught Italian language and literature, as well as etching, engraving and modern art history, all the while continuing to develop her artistic vision. Her work has been extensively exhibited in Ireland, the UK and Italy.

In 1976 she founded the etching and engraving studio GRAFICA 2 IRELAND, which remained in operation until 1983. Since 1985, Laura has often incorporated her words and writings into her paintings. This gradually developed into fully formed poems, which were published in two collections in Italy in 1992 and 1996. In 2001, a retrospective exhibition spanning 40 years of her work, was hosted at the very first Muscailt arts festival in NUI, Galway.

Based in Galway, Laura now works full-time on mahogany, canvas and paper, and continues to exhibit in Ireland and Italy. Her reason for continuing to paint is a simple desire to communicate with the viewer. That’s what this show at the Norman Villa Gallery is all about, with a variety of styles, themes and colours on display.

Laura’s exhibition will run until March 3 at Norman Villa Gallery, Lower Salthill.