Manuela Lietti is an independent art critic and curator specialized in contemporary Asian art. In 2003, she graduated from the Department of Oriental Languages and Civilizations at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, having written her bachelors’ thesis on contemporary Chinese artist Yang Shaobin. After her graduation, she moved to Beijing where in 2007, she obtained her master’s degree in Chinese History of Art and Art Criticism from the Academy of Art and Design of Tsinghua University. Since 2003, Manuela has been active as a curator, critic, and coordinator in the field of gallery and museum exhibitions as well as public art projects, in Greater China and abroad.
Manuela has worked with various institutions, including: Venice Biennale (Venice), The Israel Museum (Jerusalem), CAFAM Art Museum (Beijing), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), 2010 Carrara Sculpture Biennale (Carrara), The Chinese Ministry of Culture (Beijing), Three Shadows Photography Art Centre (Beijing), The Italian Ministry of Culture (Rome), 2019 UABB Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture, Galleria Continua, Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Cassina Projects. In 2024, she served as curator at Capsule Venice, Venice, where she was in charge of the yearly program of exhibitions and public events.
She is currently a researcher in the field of contemporary art from China at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
She regularly contributes to a number of art publications including Arte e Critica, Frieze, Flash Art, Art Asia Pacific, artforum.com.cn and artron.net .