Bettina Werner, The Queen of Salt: Biography

Bettina Werner, "The Queen of Salt" is an internationally acclaimed artist. Born in Milan, Italy in 1965. Now residing in lower Manhattan. The Title "Queen of Salt" refers to her pioneering and revolutionary use of salt in art creating paintings, sculptures and installations with her invention of textured colorized salt technique, developed in the early 1980's.

She was the first artist to exclusively utilize salt as an artistic medium. She celebrated her 25th anniversary of her creative Art journey with a Retrospective at 7 WORLD TRADE CENTER in New York City. View the spectacular slideshow of the Art Exhibition here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RWn76QLCL8
http://www.bettina-werner.com/7WTC/

When Bettina Werner first started to paint she wanted to find a unique, particular material that would be her signature tool for artistic expression-- something that would bring to her work its own inherent qualities of history, culture and symbolic meaning while at the same time be beautifully unique. While studying at the prestigious Brera Academy of Fine Art in Milan, Ms.Werner found salt to be just the element she was looking for.

A wonderfully textural, transparent, crystal that represents so much history, value and philosophic meaning, while keeping the power of the immense force of the sea - Ms.Werner became intrigued by the value of salt throughout ancient history. Discovering salt to be her own treasure, Bettina Werner began studying combinations of textures and colors with salt crystals to maximize different results creating a unique signature of artistic language.

Her success in revering salt in vibrant colors led Bettina Werner to the U.S. in 1989. One year later she started showing her artwork with Marisa Del Re Gallery in the Fuller Building, located on 57th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

In New York in 2002, she founded "The Salt Queen Foundation",a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational institution, its goals include the celebration of artists whose free imagination is uniquely expressed through the use of innovative techniques and unusual materials. http://www.thesaltqueenfoundation.org

Bettina Werner's artwork are exhibited in Museums, galleries and public spaces extensively throughout Europe, Russia and the United States, including: the Whitney Museum, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the Detroit Institute of Art, Portofino Museum, Italy, Triennale Museum in Milan, Las Vegas Art Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, the collection of Herbert and Dorothy Vogel , the collection of Martin Margulies of Miami and Nicos Vernicos of Athens, Greece.

Reviews and features on her work have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Art in America, Elle, Architectural Digest,The Chicago Tribune,The Miami Herald, ArtNews, Elle Decor, GQ, Flash Art, Hamptons Magazine, New York Post,'Espresso, Il Corriere della Sera, and many more publications.
http://www.bettina-werner.com/press.html

Bettina Werner has been featured in art textbooks throughout Europe such as "Arte del Novecento by Miriam Mirolla and Guido Zucconi, through the prestigious Italian publishing house Mondadori Universita' 2002 and "Arte Moderna", by Giulio Carlo Argan, an art textbook used throughout Italy's Schools.

She is now a driving force in the Financial District of New York City with her radiant unique artworks. Her loft faces the New York Stock Exchange, in the newly renovated Philippe Starck Building http://bettina-werner.com/sqf/loft-wall-street

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Palace of The Salt Queen

SELECTED ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS:

2002-2010
THE SALT QUEEN FOUNDATION, founded in New York City.

2010
"Bettina Werner's 25 Years Retrospective"
7 WORLD TRADE CENTER, 49th floor, New York City

2009
TRIENNALE Bovisa Museum, Bistrot, Milan, Italy,
"Crystals of the Winter Sea" TIFFANY & Co. East Hampton, New York
The SETAI, New York
NYC 09-10 Fashions Night Out, Brunello Cucinelli, New York
The Salt Queen Foundation, Hamptons, NY

2007-08
TRIENNALE Bovisa Museum, Bistrot, Milan, Italy,
The Salt Queen Foundation, Hamptons, NY

2006
TRIENNALE Bovisa Museum, Bistrot, Milan, Italy,
Il Frantoio, Capalbio, Italy
Bettina Werner, Queen of Salt, Torre delle saline, Margherita di Savoia, Italy (catalogue text by Lia De Venere)
The Salt Queen Foundation, Water Mill, NY

2005
A Night of Salt, in conjuction with the 62nd Venice International Film Festival, Venice Italy

2004
One Night for India, The Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles

2003
Art and Design Together, Maurice Villency Flagship, 57th Street, New York

2001
Salt Of The Earth
Winston Wachter Mayer Fine Art, New York, 2001

2000
Millennium Collection, for the Trustees Dinner,
The Whitney Museum, New York, March 6, 2000
Bettina Werner's Installations with a Concert of Dee Dee Bridgewater, Homage to Ella Fitzgerald, Salina Infersa di Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Art and Fashion Together,
DKNY, Madison Avenue at 59th Street, New York
Art and Design Together,
B&B Italia, 58th Street, New York

1999
Art and Food Together,
Caviarteria, Park Avenue at 59th Street, New York
La Regina del Sale,
Galleria del Cortile, Rome, Italy

1998
Tuffarsi in un mare di donna salata...,
Villa Rufolo, Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Walking into the knowledge of Salt,
Bergdorf Goodman Men, New York
Live a Life Full of Love with Both Feet Planted Firmly on Salt,
Pucci International, New York

1996
Toccare con mano, Fabia Calvasina Gallery, Milan

1995
Five Years Together, Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York

1994
David Klein Gallery, Michigan, Detroit

1993
Martin Margulies Taplin Gallery, Miami
Galleria del Cortile, Rome, Italy

1992
O.K.Harris/David Klein Gallery, Michigan, Detroit

1991
Martin Margulies Taplin Gallery, Bay Harbor Island, Florida
Rocca Paolina Museum, Perugia, Italy
(Catalogue text by Giorgio Bonomi and Lorenzo Mango)
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
(Catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)

1990
Severiarte, Bologna, Italy
(Catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)

1989
Galleria Milano, Milan, Italy
(Catalogue text by Filiberto Menna)
Nadia Bassanese Gallery, Trieste, Italy
(Catalogue text by Filiberto Menna)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2009
Artist Secret Society, Christys Art Center, Sag Harbor, New York

2008
The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection " Fifty Works for Fifty States",
Las Vegas Museum
Significant Form:The Persistance of Abstraction,
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

2007
Art & Style Soiree, Art Basel Miami 07, Hibiscus Island
Fight Aids Monaco, curated by Princess Stephanie, Montecarlo
The Salt Queen Foundation, Water Mill, NY

2006
Caftani del Marocco, La Triennale di Milano, Italy
The Salt Queen Foundation, Hamptons, NY

2005
New York Beasts on the Beach, The Salt Queen Foundation
(essay by Julia Szabo)

2004
Blossoming of Innovative Techniques and Extraordinary Media,
The Salt Queen Foundation
(essay by Miriam Mirolla)

2001
Galleria del Cortile, Rome, Italy

1999
"The Museum as Muse: Artist Reflect"
(On line Project) The Museum of Modern Art, New York
"Ornaments"
DKNY, with The New Museum, New York
"Benefit Art Auction"
The New Museum, New York
Galleria Del Cortile, Rome, Italy
"Art in General. Artist's Studio Benefit Tour 1999"
New York, April 24, 1999
"Showcase Home for the Millennium 2000"
57 East 80th Street, New York, Fall 1999
"Bettina Werner Salt Artist and Laurent Elie Badessi Photographer"
Lush, New York
"Men"
Egizio's Project, NY
Kamasutra, Arte e Poesia
Spazio Montenero, Milan, Italy

1998
Women Artists in The Vogel Collection
Brenau University Galleries, Gainesville, Georgia
(curated by Jean Westmacott, essays by Ruth E. Fine and Molly Donovan)

1997
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
VI Biennale de Sculpture, Montecarlo, 1997
"Absolut Secret", Royal College of Art, London
Festival di Bomarzo, Bomarzo, Italy
(curated by Simonetta Lux and Miriam Mirolla)
Celebri Kiss, Trussardi Foundation, Milan
(curated by Samuele Mazza, catalgue Leonardo Arte)
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
Flowers, Sala Lancisi, Rome
Madrenatura, Palazzo dei Martinitt, Milan
( Prearo Catalogue )

1996
Close to home, Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx, New York
(curated by Susan Hoeltzel)
One,Foundation Art Gallery,New York
Fabia Calvasina Gallery,Milan

1995
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
In Khan Gallery, New York
Galleria del Cortile, Rome, Italy
Minimal Optimal, Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York
(text by Maia Damianovic)
Cinderella's Revenge, Traveling Exhibition:
(curated by Samuele Mazza,catalogue Chronicle Books):
-Lane Crawford, Hong Kong
-Lane Crawford, Singapore
-Niccoli Gallery, Parma, Italy
-Passage de retz Marais, Paris

1994
-Cristinerose Gallery, New York
-Smith's Gallery, Covent Garden, London
-Jeddah Exhibition Center, Saudi Arabia
The Work of Contemporary Artist in Private Collections in Milan,
Palazzo Delle Stelline, Milan
(Catalogue Mazzotta)
First Biennal de Sculpture 94, Amsterdam, Holland
The Spirit of New York, Sesto Calende Museum, Italy
(curated by Florence Lynch)
Inaugural Exhibition, ArtNation, inc., New York
(curated by Florence Lynch)
Luce per l'arte e arte per la luce, Studio Pollice, Milan

1993
IV Biennal De Sculpture, Monte Carlo
Arte Poetica, Frederick R.Weisman Museum of Art, Malibu
(catalogue text by Nora Halpern )
Continuing Generations, Annina Nosei Gallery, New York
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
Living Art Gallery, Milan
The Linear Image II, Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York

1992
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam
Martin Margulies Taplin Gallery, Miami
International Symposium of Marble, Thassos, Greece
(Catalogue text by Emmy Varouxaki)
Artae, Church of Sainte Carpoforo, Milan
(catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)
De Europa, Centro degli Artisti, Rome
(catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
The Spirit, Snug Harbor Art Museum, Staten Island,N.Y.
(catalogue text by Olivia Georgia)
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York

1991
III Biennal De Sculpture, Monte Carlo
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
De Europa, Athens Museum, Athens, Greece
De Europa, La Salerniana Museum, Erice, Sicily,Italy
(Catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)
Artae , Centro Congressi, Ferrara, Italy
(catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)
Arie, Fonti del Clitunno, Spoleto, Italy
(catalogue text by Achille Bonito Oliva)

1990
Influences, Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York
The Square, Nohra Haime Gallery, New York
Tornvall Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Arte Giovane, Flash Art, Milan
(catalogue curated by Flash Art Magazine)
Marisa Del Re Gallery, New York

1989
Milano punto uno, Traveling Exhibition:
-Studio Marconi, Milan
-Mara Coccia Gallery, Rome
-Nicola Verlato Gallery, Bologna,Italy
-La Polena Gallery, Genova, Italy
-La Nuova Bussola Gallery, Torino, Italy
Cafiso Gallery, Milan
(curated by Tommaso Trini)
Artelago, Monate Lake, Italy
(catalogue text by Giuseppe Panza Di Biumo, Simonetta Gorreri, Michel Baudson)
Gallery Night, Milan

1988
Quattro idee di un mondo, Studio Bocchi, Rome
FeriArt 1988, Ville de Nimes, France
Scolio I, International Biennal, with Arnaldo Pomodoro and Francesco Leonetti, Castel dell'Ovo, Naples, Italy
Scolio II, Rotonda della Besana, Milan with Arnaldo Pomodoro and Francesco Leonetti

1987
Tutto, Galleria Extra, Taranto, Italy

1986
Galleria Pero, Milan Italy