Cristiana Messina (b.1991) is an Italian-born artist currently living in Scotland. Her work blends fine art and new media, inspired by her love of travel and the equine. Trained at the Giacomo Manzú Art School in Bergamo (IT), the European Institute of Design in Milan, and the Leith School of Painting in Edinburgh, Cristiana specializes in visual arts and 2D animation.

Her works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Paard Verzmeld Equestrian Gallery in Amsterdam and the Art and Cavallo Festival in Verona. She is also the author and illustrator of the children’s book Meli Yang Ceria, published in Singapore, with her illustrations selected for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in 2017.

One of Cristiana’s recent projects, The Sea of Hope, a short 2D animated film directed by Walid Salhab, has allowed her to showcase her skills in visual development and animation. Since its debut in January 2022, the film has achieved significant success, earning 16 best animation awards, 5 semi-finalist awards, and 2 honorable mentions, for a total of 56 awards and more than 70 official selections worldwide.

While grounded in classical fine art techniques, animation has become Cristiana’s natural voice. Inspired by the dynamic and ever-changing, she merges traditional techniques with contemporary animation and new media to create immersive experiences. Her practice explores the intersection of time, memory, human connection, and emotional storytelling.

Since 2024, Cristiana has embraced AI tools, using them to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.