Inside Storytelling. Art, Life, Memory
An exhibition by Caterina De Mata and Micol Nacamulli
Temple University Rome Art Gallery
Opening: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM
The Gallery of Art, Temple University Rome presents Inside Storytelling. Art, Life, Memory, an exhibition by Caterina De Mata and Micol Nacamulli, opening on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM and on display until December 3, 2025.
The exhibition offers an immersive journey into Jewish cultural storytelling, bringing together different expressive forms and languages—illustration and cinema—to explore the deep connection between art, life, and memory.
On one hand, the works of Micol Nacamulli, artist and illustrator, poetically and vibrantly narrate family memories, traditions, and customs of the Jewish people. In her drawings and paintings—dreamlike and playful in atmosphere—color becomes a tool of narration and emotion, capable of transforming memory into visual storytelling.
On the other hand, the cinema of Caterina De Mata, director and producer, reflects on the more painful and universal aspects of Jewish memory with her short film Like Leaves in the Wind, produced by Rai Kids, which addresses the theme of the Shoah using a language that is both visually striking and poetic.
The project aims to intertwine daily life with historical memory, identity with creativity, showing how Jewish storytelling continues to evolve and renew itself—from the transmission of family traditions to the collective elaboration of even the most dramatic historical events—while preserving cultural continuity.
The exhibition is the result of a longstanding collaboration between Temple University Rome and the Jewish Cultural Center of Rome. Each year, students from the university undertake a three-month internship at the Center, developing artistic projects that combine education, research, and creativity.
The event is sponsored by the Jewish Community of Rome and the Ernesta Besso Foundation of Rome.
Caterina De Mata is a director and producer specializing in animation and audiovisual production. She has extensive experience directing animated series, TV shows, and specials, and is known for her ability to lead creative and technical teams in the development of visually and narratively engaging projects. Her productions include Alice in the Woods (2017) and Incredible! (2022).
Micol Nacamulli is an artist and educator. After studying art and completing a master’s degree in art therapy, she has devoted herself to working with children, encouraging creativity through workshops based on color, curiosity, and play—elements that also characterize her paintings. She is the author of the illustrated book What Will Happen Behind Each Window? Stories from a Building in Quarantine (Anicia, 2021), and illustrator of Shabbat Shalom. The Renewal of Humanity. Dialogues with Riccardo Shmuel Di Segni and David Meghnagi, curated by Dario Coen (Gangemi, 2022).