The murmur of a watercourse and the grandeur of the woods, a silent companion just a few steps from her home, have left a mark in her growth. Barbara Ortelli Pin, born and raised in Lugano, Switzerland, studies as a textile designer at Centro Scolastico Industrie Artistiche (CSIA) in Lugano. Over the years her journey, significantly enhanced by the advanced courses attended at the International School of Illustration in Sarmede and other venues, has evolved through constant experimentation — an unrelenting quest for her own voice in original expressive forms.

The creative kaleidoscope that defines her world, focused on color, composition, and tactile perception, intertwines with the broad spectrum of her artistic interests: from textile art to illustration, from artist’s books to miniprints. These elements converge into a unique universe firmly bond with nature. The micro-macrocosm of nature is the inspirational key for Barbara, firmly anchored in personal memories that nourish her artistic journey.

Some of her works delve into social themes, as seen in “L’ombra che cercava la sua luce” a contemplation of dehumanization by reinterpreting Chekhov’s “Ward No. 6,”. Or the issue of sea pollution depicted in the tapestry “Marea nera”.

For years, she has been involved in organizing the exhibition series “Art in Hospital” in Lugano.

Her first exhibition dates back to 1989; since then, she has regularly participated in national and international exhibitions.

Currently living in Como, near the Swiss border, her artistic approach is guided by intuition, skillfully combining tempera, pencils, acrylics, inks, needles, and colored threads. Creating art is Barbara’s form of communication, and her guiding principle is to have fun.

In 2024 she exhibited her artworks at the gallery in a beautiful personal exhibition entitled “The thread of the speech“.