Marco Cianfanelli

Marco Cianfanelli, a South African sculptor and visual artist, was born in 1970 in Johannesburg and was raised in South Africa where he developed an early interest in art and design. Cianfanelli became interested in sculpture and spatial practice through an engagement with structure, form and landscape which continue to inform his large-scale public works. His early experiences of environment and place have played a significant role in shaping his artistic direction.

Cianfanelli studied Fine Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand where he later became associated with teaching and academic development in the arts. He developed a multidisciplinary practice that spans sculpture, installation and design, often working at the intersection of art, architecture and public space. His work reflects an ongoing interest in perception, memory and the construction of identity

He has produced various exhibitions and completed numerous public art commissions in South Africa and internationally. He is widely known for his large-scale sculpture Release (2012), located near Howick Falls, which commemorates Nelson Mandela and marks the site of his capture in 1962. His work is included in various public and private collections and he has contributed significantly to the development of public art in South Africa.