vanda focanti is a multidisciplinary (𝒸ℴ𝓃) artist, incessantly weaving her way between realms of truth an fiction.
Together, Vanda and Lily have been developing a conjoined practice documenting their friendship and their observations of the everyday affects produced by the systems of oppression (patriarchal and colonial) they inhabit. The duo’s understanding of reality is not merely one of deconstruction but rather one of misconstruction, where language is deformed by polyglot banter, inquiry is warped by humor, wit is inflated by tragedy and definitions are grossly misused for necessity. In this world, Whatsapp voice memos hold the same weight as academic texts and the pursuit of beauty is weaponized to break down societal configurations of normalcy.
In 2021, the two began calling these moments of recognition and revelation “Portals” and they began defining their shared practice of world building and exploring truth/fiction as “Portal Theory”. In 2023, Vanda debuted the “Portal Theory Manifesto” at the exhibition “La Stanza dei Manifesti (The Room of Manifestos)” hosted by the cultural collective Hercole, in Milan.
Today, Vanda lives in New York City, where she is pursuing a masters in Fine Arts at The New School (class of 2026) and Lily is based in Lausanne where she is completing her second bachelor’s degree in dance at Manufacture (class of 2026).
Read more about Portal Theory.
2024
Graphite on Paper (Tryptic)
18x24 inches
02. Loose Ends
2024
Graphite on Paper
18x24 inches
03. Miscellaneous Charcoal Studies
2025
Charcoal on Paper
12x9 inches