Sandra Deiana, born in Cagliari, Italy, in 1990, emerged as an artistic talent from an early age, garnering recognition through victories in various painting competitions during her childhood. Her artistic journey took a more formal turn after completing her basic studies when she enrolled in the Artistic High School of Cagliari. In 2007, she graduated with top marks, laying the foundation for her future in the world of art.
The next chapter of Sandra's artistic evolution unfolded in Rome, where she attended the School of Medal Art of the Italian Mint. Here, she honed her skills in classical engraving with a burin, copperplate engraving, and direct cutting. Notably, in 2015, she secured victory in the internal competition for designing and creating models for the Italian Mint's annual "calendar medal."
A significant milestone occurred in 2016 when Sandra crafted her inaugural coin commissioned by the Republic of Ireland. This coin, dedicated to architect Eileen Gray, made history as the first Irish coin to celebrate a female figure. Six years of dedicated work at the Italian Mint laid a robust foundation for Sandra's career, but her thirst for specialization and exposure to diverse artistic perspectives led her to embark on a journey abroad.
Sandra's pursuit of artistic enrichment took her to San Francisco, California, where she delved into advanced sculpture courses and embraced techniques distinct from those she had mastered in Italy. Her artistic endeavors reached international recognition in 2019 when the Shanghai Mint invited her to the Coin Forum and Award. Sandra presented a project dedicated to the traditional masks of her homeland, Sardinia, earning the Silver Prize.
In her collaborative ventures, Sandra Deiana has left her mark on various issuing authorities, including the Royal Mint, the Republic of San Marino, the Central Bank of Luxembourg, and the Central Bank of Ireland. Private mints in Europe and the United States have also sought her expertise. Notable among her creations are the medal commemorating the 220th anniversary of the Italian Tricolor, the 2018 annual medal for the Italian Numismatic Association, and the 2021 "calendar medal" for Picchiani & Barlacchi, a historic Florentine company.
Sandra's artistic prowess reached new heights when she designed and sculpted the 2022 Britannia for the Royal Mint, portraying the "three ages" of the United Kingdom through the faces of a child, a young woman, and a mature female figure. This achievement marked her as the first Italian artist to sign a British coin since Benedetto Pistrucci in the early 19th century.
Experts in the field recognize Sandra Deiana's distinctive style for its inherent sense of compositional elegance and harmonization of forms. Her modern perspective on the universe of symbols and allegories underlying coins and medals sets her work apart. Currently residing and working in the Netherlands, Sandra continues her creative journey, delving into new techniques, art history, and the intricate world of numismatics.
