Over the past 20 years her work has been featured in several solo and group exhibitions, including in Parma, Paris, Prague, the Venice Biennale (2011) and in Chicago at the International Biennial of Contemporary Art at the Zhou Brothers Art Center (2013).

The following translated excerpts from an interview from Piero Del Giudice's book, 'Materia memoria annuncio. L'opera di Gianna Zanafredi', Mantova 2017, provide information about the author and impressions of the painting technique, themes and poetics in her work.

"When I started art school in 1993, I already had some experiences behind me: sociology studies, marriage, motherhood, divorce. (...). I had no knowledge of art and had never held a pencil in my hand. With some teachers I soon got together. I was supposed to trace objects: bottles, plaster sculptures, a shoe... But I started with the informal right away and I still paint abstractly today. The artists who interested me were Rauschenberg, Rothko, Pollock, Tápies , artist of the 1950s. But there was no one who inspired me in particular. I couldn't say who is closest to me. Among the Italians, certainly Alberto Burri."

"I prepare the canvas base with a filler made of plaster, glue and sometimes sand and strips of wood. I don't like a smooth surface, I prefer a rough and moving one that can be scratched and changed. This base is often made up of several layers. (. ..) On the ground thus formed from different materials I work with sponges, with my hands, with spatulas and for retouching with small brushes.After the skeleton, the structure of the material has completely dried out, I operate with the colors.First a white one Acrylic base, then very diluted oil paints. Finally bitumen, diluted or undiluted, poured through a sieve. After that I remove the stains, or leave them and scratch until the work corresponds to my idea".