Paper/Mirror/Paper – The Mirrored Faces of the Academy

As we welcome the warmer days, the community of The Florence Academy of Art gather to celebrate the opening of Paper Mirror Paper, a self-portrait exhibition composed by FAA faculty and alumni. 

Working with a timeless theme, the artists present their exploration of identity, reflection, and self-expression on paper; some offer insight into their artistic journeys, while others engage in dialogue with their role as artists and educators. For both current and former students of the FAA, Paper Mirror Paper serves as an allegory to the fundamental mirroring technique, offering a fresh perspective on our subject. The mirror enlightens us by revealing unseen dimensions (sometimes mistakes, or happy accidents) about our models and drawings, transforming the familiar into the unfamiliar to uncover hidden narratives within our own hand. Behind each self-portrait, the artists are dancing intimately with their reflection, seeking uniquely personal connections that uncover hidden truths and serendipitous revelations about the self.

Students admiring works on display in the FAA Gallery

Paper Mirror Paper celebrates not only individual achievements, but also the diversity of the extended community of the FAA. The online exhibition, with a curated selection of works shown in person, features artists from 25 countries, showcasing a spectrum of traditional to contemporary approaches. United under the topic of self-portraiture, the artworks demonstrate skillful versatility across traditional media: charcoal, graphite, chalk, sanguine, ink, and printmaking techniques. The rigorous training at the FAA allows them to transcend physical resemblance to capture their multifaceted inner worlds.

The Paper Mirror Paper alumni exhibition opening at The Florence Academy of Art

Works on display for the Paper Mirror Paper alumni exhibition

For those wanting a closer look at the self-portraits, Paper Mirror Paper is open to the public May 12–30, Monday to Friday, 2 pm to 5 pm, at The Florence Academy of Art, Via Aretina 293, Florence. To view the online exhibition on The Florence Academy of Art website, click here.

FAA Faculty Ola Alaa El-Din and Saara Knapp at the Paper Mirror Paper alumni exhibition opening

While every portrait is commendable, some received extra recognition at the physical opening of Paper Mirror Paper. Congratulations to the following artists and their self-portraits:

Faculty & Florence-Based Alumni

Life-Size Category

First Place Winner
Isabelle Weir
Smile!, 2025
Sepia on hand-toned Fabriano paper
45 x 55 cm 

Second Place Winner
Elizabeth Ralph-Smith
Self-Portrait, 2025
Mixed media on paper
46 x 60 cm 

Honorable Mentions
Matteo Persiani
In Ascolto, 2025
Charcoal and white chalk on toned paper
50 x 70 cm 

Vitaliy Shtanko
Self-Portrait, 2025
Brown and black sauce on toned paper
50 x 75 cm 

Katerina Christou
Little Guardian, 2025
Charcoal and white chalk on hand-toned paper
50 x 66 cm 

Under Life-Size Category

First Place Winner
Giannina Mellema
Autoritratto, 2020
Mixed media on Annigoni paper
30 x 34 cm 

Second Place Winner
Gabriel Schwaab
Self-Portrait at 26, 2025
Graphite
29 x 23 cm 

Honorable Mentions
Dasha Belokrylova
Me at Age 28, 2023
Sanguine, sepia and brown pencils on toned paper
20 x 30 cm 

Mitch Shea
Self-Portrait, 2024
Sanguine
43.2 x 48.3 cm 

Beyond Florence Alumni

Life-Size Category 

First Place Winner
Zacheriah Kramer
Winter Light (Double Self-Portrait), 2025
Charcoal and bone-ash white on paper
46 x 58 cm 

Under Life-Size Category 

First Place Winner
Emma Rach-Syslak
Penumbra, 2025
Pastel, graphite, sanguine and chalk
35.6 x 27.9 cm 

Honorable Mention
Nicole Alger
One Mirror, 2025
Charcoal and graphite on Ito Bindery
28 x 20 cm

Ulrich Suberg
Self-Portrait in Pencil, 2017
Graphite
15 x 20 cm 

Printmaking Category 

First Place Winner
Giuseppe de Palma
Ignoranza, 2024
Etching
15 x 10 cm 

Honorable Mention
Cameron Marsh
Self-Portrait With Open Mouth, 2025
Etching and drypoint
13 x 15 cm