Book Arts & Printmaking Alum Working in Florence

January 13, 2020

In their December issue, The Florentine, a grassroots news magazine for the English-speaking community in Florence, Italy, named Patricia Silva MFA ’99 (Book Arts & Printmaking) on their short list of six international makers making waves in the birthplace of the Renaissance. 

Described as a “paper genius,” Silva currently teaches Printmaking and Book Arts at Studio Arts College International (SACI) and Santa Reparata International School Of Art (SRISA) in Florence. “Teaching in Italy allows me to impart a sense of history and tradition in the arts which often times is lacking in modern societies,” says Silva. “At a time when the book is losing its dominant position as an information carrier, I wish to expose my students to the myriad of creative, aesthetic and conceptual possibilities available in book arts.”

Origami disk
Origami trivet, collaboration w/ calligrapher Satsuki Hatsushima. Repurposed New Years postcards.

Silva’s teaching philosophy focuses on instilling a solid technical foundation and a broad vocabulary of techniques, while sparking curiosity and enthusiasm in her students to give voice to their imaginations. “A sound technical base is essential, but will yield little fruit if the student does not have a degree of passion for what [they are] doing,” she says.

Silva remains active in the Florence art scene, recently presenting Stella Stellina, a star book-making workshop for the holidays, at the Galleria Cartavetra in December. Her work will be featured in the upcoming exhibit Habitat on Jan. 15, curated by Pietro Gaglianò at SRISA. Faculty and staff were invited to consider the concept of habitat: “from the natural to the metropolitan landscape, from the community to the private sphere, from the perception of the planet on a global scale to the most intimate and mental abstractions.” She also runs a private studio specializing in custom bookworks and limited edition artist’s books.

Silva received a BFA in Art History/Studio Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art. She worked for 10 years as a graphic designer and art director in the publication industry before diving into the field of Book Arts. She has interned in the book conservation labs of the American Philosophical Society under Hedi Kyle and the Library Company in Philadelphia. Silva has also worked as a book conservation technician at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia, and has studied at the Centro del Bel Libro in Switzerland and the Rare Book School of the University of Virginia. 

Silva was named a Maestra Rilegatore (Master Bookbinder) in the 1998 international bookbinding competition “100 Maestri Rilegatore per L'Infinito” and received the Eugene Feldman Commemorative Award at UArts in 1999. Her work can be found in collections both in the U.S. and Italy.

Learn more about the Book Arts & Printmaking MFA.