Hello, this is Anita Sto (Sanvitto). I’m a self-taught Multimedia Visual Artist. I was born in Rome (Italy) where I studied architecture and earned a BFA in illustration. A few years later, in the early 2000s, I relocated to Brooklyn, NY, where I currently live and work.

  • My works are primarily autobiographical, focusing on themes such as time, perception, space, and a sense of belonging. I aim to transcend boundaries of gender, race, and culture, seeking to connect with a more universal aspect of humanity amidst the chaos of life. I utilize a variety of media—including photography, painting, drawing, and digital art to explore concepts rooted in repetition, geometry, and numerical patterns. My hope is that viewers can discover their own narratives within my art.

  • 2004-2007
    BA Fine Art and Illustration
    Istituto Europeo di Design, Rome

    2000-2004
    Bachelor Interior Architecture
    University of Rome La Sapienza
    Valle Giulia, Rome


    RESIDENCIES

    2009
    LetterPress On The Vandercook Press
    by Daniel Gardiner Morris
    The Arm LetterPress Studio and Gallery, New York

    Painting Between Realism & Abstraction
    by Andrew Castrucci
    School of Visual Arts, New York

    2008
    Painting and Mixed Media
    School of Visual Arts, New York

    2005
    Children’s Books Illustration
    La Fabbrica delle Favole, Macerata



    EXTRACURRICULAR

    2010
    The Body on Display:
    Performance Art, 1970 to Today
    by Jovana Stokic
    MoMA, Education and Research Building
    4 West 54 Street, New York, NY

  • 2013
    TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM
    A collaboration piece with Giorgio Savona
    Broadway Gallery NYC
    473 Broadway 7th Floor, New York, NY 10013

    2012
    EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH AN OBJECT IN THE REAL WORLD
    Broadway Gallery NYC
    Curated by Whitney V. Hunter
    Producer-Project Manager Man-Lai Liang
    473 Broadway 7th Floor, New York, NY 10013

    2011
    HEADS FOR SALE
    Broadway Gallery NYC
    Curated by Anita Sto and Whitney V. Hunter
    473 Broadway 7th Floor, New York, NY 10013

    2010
    UNTITLED
    Atlas Cafe
    Curated by Anita Sto and Edoardo Anselmi
    116 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

    2008
    ME & MR.B
    Mondello Ottica
    Curated by Anita Sto
    Via del Pellegrino 21, 00186 Rome

    2007
    LA MIA TESI
    Vineria dei Leoni
    Curated by Anita Sto and Paolo Aroldo Sanvitto
    Via della Scala 51, 00186 Rome

  • 2024
    BUSHWICK OPEN STUDIOS
    248 McKibbin street, at Mr. Kills
    Brooklyn, New York


    MR.KILLS
    248 McKibbin street
    Brooklyn, New York


    2022
    BUSHWICK OPEN STUDIOS
    248 McKibbin street, Loft 4B
    Brooklyn, New York


    2016
    BORDERLESS
    Lite-Haus Gallery
    Mareschstr. 4
    Berlin, Germany
    Curated by David Christopher Terry

    2014
    FALL GRAND SALON SHOW
    Greenpoint Gallery
    390 Mcguinness Blvd Brooklyn, New York 11222
    Curated by Shawn James

    2013
    PANGEA
    Group Show by artists participating in NYFA's Immigrant Artists Mentoring Program
    20 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York
    David C. Terry

    2012
    YOUR FACE IS A LANDSCAPE, Show#10
    Field Projects
    526 W 26th Street, #807, New York
    Curated by Sara Reisman & Reina Shibata

    WORK/SPACE 2012
    The Invisible Dog Art Center
    51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
    Curated by Whitney V. Hunter

    2011
    WORK/SPACE 2011
    The Invisible Dog Art Center
    51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
    Curated by Whitney V. Hunter

    PERCEZIONI URBANE
    Atelier degli Artisti
    Curated by Kelly Costa
    Via dell’Arco di San Callisto 40, Rome, 00186

    2010
    TRIPLE FIFTY
    B&AB Art Space
    Curated by Brian Balderston
    80 Ainslie Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

    OPEN STUDIOS_01
    The Invisible Dog Art Center
    51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

    ON THE GRID
    Camel Art Space
    Curated by Chris McGee and Rob de Oude
    722 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

    WHAT’S THE POINT?
    Fundraising event at La Pomme
    Curated by LJ3
    37 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010

    CITTA’ DI NEW YORK
    Hotel Jolly Madison
    Curated by Paolo Guccione
    22 E 38th Street New York, NY 10016

    2009
    BRONX BLUE BEDROOM PROJECT
    Blue Bedroom
    Blanka Amezkua
    309 Alexander Ave, Bronx, NY 11105

    2008
    OPEN STUDIOS
    School of Visual Arts
    209 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010

    LE FLEURES DU MAL
    Libreria Fahrenheit 451
    Curated by Roberto Savi
    Campo dè Fiori 44, 00186 Rome

    FAMA DA LUPO
    Galleria Vecchia Pescheria
    Curated by Gianni Zauli
    Savignano sul Rubicone, Ravenna

    194:NON TOCCARLA
    Women Political Campaign
    Curated by Martina Venettoni

    2007
    LA CITTA’ IN MOSTRA
    C.S. Rialto Sant’Ambrogio
    Curated by Genuine Roman Art
    Via di Sant’Ambrogio 4, 00186 Rome

  • 2013
    Award, NYFA Mentoring Program for Immigrant Artists

    2012
    Photo Catalog by Mondello Ottica
    VETRINE D’AUTORE
    Allemandi Editore

    2009
    Rivista Boe'
    Centro Diffusione Arte

    Prize, Citta' di New York
    Centro Diffusione Arte, Palermo

    2008
    Book Cover
    QUATTRO STORIE PIU’ UNA
    Michele Di Salvo Editore

    Illustrations
    LA NOBILE ARTE, Catalogue

    Graphic Artist, cover and sleeve
    LA CENA, Lorenzo Lambiase

    Illustrations
    LE FLEURES DU MAL, Catalogue

    2007
    Art Portraits
    RITRATTORIA ROMANA, Catalogue
    San Pellegrino spa

    2006
    Book Cover
    SORRIDIMI ANCORA
    Giulio Perrone Editore

    Book Cover
    NELL’ARIA DEL TUO GIARDINO
    Giulio Perrone Editore

  • Ian and Spencer

    Christian James Bauer

    Matt Murphy

    Jesse Poe and Daniela Colaianni

    Ko-Rely Pi

    Lisa Balasso

    Manuela Vu Trieu

    Justin Peyser and Michelle Hobart

    Adeeb Asfari

    Aframe Studio, New York

    Creamhotel, New York

    Jeremy Galen

Photograph by Malcolm Brown, 2010

A text from Joanne Howard

Many aspects of “self” are examined, in a variety of media, in Anita Sto’s work. Whether in video, works on paper or with text, Sto’s work pays attention to the unrelenting tension between internal and external forces.

In her video work, Sto relies on her own reflection as the portal into themes of identity, loneliness and the unrelenting reality of our shared solitary status. In “Black Box of Consciousness”, Sto confronts a mirror and waits for an emotional outburst that reduces her to tears. Because the loop begins with a face in repose, the arc from serene to sobbing is extreme, giving way to reactions that range from thrillingly voyeuristic, to tragic and empathetic, to strangely (and perhaps inappropriately) comedic.

In her year long performance “One Year Living Without Mirror” Sto was able to reinforce her commitment to her internal life and sense of isolation. She deprived herself of the ordinary rituals of grooming and perhaps more importantly, the simple visual reminder of existence as confirmed by seeing ones’ reflection. This year long performance provided her with a self-imposed marginalization and further underscored her sense of aloneness.

The “process” dimension in Sto’s performance pieces is also evident in her works on paper. Daily rituals are again utilized and practiced in the form of mark making. She uses one ballpoint pen until its depletion in one series, and a manual typewriter as a conduit for rhythm and pattern through word repetition.

Embracing the mechanical regularity of the typewriter becomes a form of momentum or inertia. This mechanical rhythm is also examined in a series of drawings made on a vintage player piano roll, where images respond to patterns that both suggest and replace the paper’s original intention, a piece of music.

Sto’s quest for meaning through the practice of daily rituals asserts that the answers are at arms reach, and found in the ordinary. The discipline and routine inherent in ritual includes a sense of both work and play.  There is evidence of this duality present in the work, where levity and seriousness find equilibrium.