Francesca Menghini (b.1987) is an Italian social documentary photographer based in the Netherlands.
She embraced photography later in life and, after a couple of years as an autodidact, in 2021 she pursued a formal education in the field. Francesca received a BA (Hons) in Photography from Falmouth University in 2024.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in group and solo exhibitions, including the Fujifilm House of Photography in London, the Morean Arts Center in Florida, and the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney. She was a Finalist in the AOP Emerging Talent Award and semi-finalist in the Head on Portrait Award.
Francesca’s work has been featured in printed and online publications such as the book Arte Queer published by Rizzoli.
From Francesca’s perspective, photography is a powerful medium that enables her to establish a profound connection with the world. Guided mostly by research-based projects, and favouring the interplay between natural light and the people she portrays, her approach involves using various visual narratives to delve into themes centred around identity and social issues, using portraiture as her main visual language.
Education
2024: BA (Hons) Photography, Falmouth University (First Class Honours)
Awards
2023: Head On Portrait Award, Semi-Finalist
2022: BarTur Photo Award Student/Faces of Humanity Award, Shortlisted
2022: AOP Emerging Talent Award 2021/22
Solo Exhibitions
2022: ‘Faces Of Fearless’ Project, Soursop Agency, Amsterdam, NL
Collective Exhibitions
2024: BOOMing Contemporary Art Show, Guest Artist, Bologna, IT
2023: BookCity Milano, BABS Art Gallery, Milan, Italy
2023: Head On Photo Festival, Sydney, Australia
2022: Chrysalid Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2022: FujiFilm House of Photography, London
2022: Bistrot del Teatro, Viterbo, IT
2022: AOP Photography Awards Showcase, Village Underground Shoreditch London
2022: BROAD Magazine, Home Issue, 560 Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2022: Loosenart Magazine/Gallery, Spazio Millepiani, Rome, IT
2021: Float Photo Magazine, Online
2021: Foley Gallery, New York City,US
2021: De Balie, Amsterdam, NL
2021: The Holy Art Gallery, London
2020: Bargehouse Gallery, OXO Tower Wharf, London
2020: Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
Events
2022: She Takes Over Campaign
2021: HagueTalks, Museon Den Haag, NL
Selected Publications
2024: Viole di Marzo; Interview
2023: Henry+Magazine, Red Cross Netherlands; Selected Photographs
2023: Arte Queer, Book, Rizzoli Editore; Unbounded
2022: Gay. it; Interview
2022: Brainto; Interview
2022: Curated by Girls; Unbounded
2022: The 37th AOP Awards, Book; Unbounded
2022: BROAD Magazine, Home Issue; Selected Photograph
2021: CARG; Sinophobia
2020: Zizo Magazine; Unbounded