Female Voices in Art: Marianne Fossaluzza, Heritage Professional and PhD candidate at the University of Aberdeen

Marianne Fossaluzza (b. 1992, Penne d’Agenais, France) is a heritage professional and PhD candidate at the University of Aberdeen. Her doctoral research examines Edward Atkinson Hornel’s photographic collection, focusing on themes of gender, identity, and working practices. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Art History and Museum Studies from the École du Louvre in France. Marianne has six years of experience with the National Trust for Scotland, where she contributed as a Collection Inventory Officer and guide at Drum Castle. During this time, she curated an exhibition showcasing Hornel’s photographs, bringing their stories to a wider audience. Her research has also led to two published articles in the Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History. In addition to her academic and heritage work, Marianne co-founded FineLines Studio, where she supports cultural institutions in creating engaging video content.

Could you tell us something about your role in the art world?

I feel that my role is quite multifaceted, as I have a hand in research, public engagement, and now even creation! While the PhD gives me the opportunity to dive deep in my subject and present new findings and perspectives, my work at the National Trust for Scotland is all about making art and heritage accessible to the public. I try to foster curiosity and provide insightful knowledge, in the hope of generating a desire to engage with art. Finally, I have now crossed over to the creative side, as the founding of FineLines Studio has seen me take on a more hands-on position, as I am in charge of the scriptwriting.

What did you enjoy about being a part of this project?

I think it is probably the fact that it gave me that realisation that ‘yes, actually, I am part of the art world!’ I would not really have said that about myself before. Seeing the other brilliant and inspiring women on the project, I am honoured and humbled to feel that I belong in their ranks.

Do you have a favourite artist?

It seems impossible to answer but I would probably say Caravaggio. I was doing an internship in the Musée Fabre of Montpellier when the exhibition Caravaggio: Bodies and Shadows was on, and I got to spend time with his paintings when the gallery was not open, in silence and solitude. It was a very special experience. It might sound cliché, but his use of light is masterful, and I find it fascinating.

What is your earliest memory involving art?

My father always had the travelling bug and even as children he would take us on long car trips. When I was about six, he decided to take us to Italy. We left during the evening, and he drove through the night as my sister and I were asleep. When he woke me up the following morning, he shoved a bowl of cereal in my hands, then with a smile told me to look out the window. There, a few hundred meters away from me was the tower of Pisa. It seemed so huge, so masterfully built, and it was bent! This image was seared into my brain, I don’t think I’ve had another such breathtaking reveal since!



Do you have any special thoughts about the position of women in the art world?

 I think the position of women in the art world is complex, shaped by a long history of both visibility and invisibility. Women have often been central to art as subjects—frequently idealised, exoticised, or reduced to stereotypes. My own research into Hornel’s photographic collection has made me keenly aware of how women were historically constructed through the artist’s lens, their identities often flattened to fit external narratives. I am happy to see that things are slowly evolving, with so many projects, exhibitions, or institutions looking to showcase and amplify women’s perspectives. Today, women are not only reclaiming their roles as subjects but asserting their voices as creators, curators, and custodians of art. There is, of course, much work left to do, but I trust the process and I trust my peers.

What are you wearing, and is there a story behind it?

I am wearing a simple red jumper, black skirt, and colourful scarf. It is an outfit I really like because I find it simple yet elegant. It is in line with my values because it is second hand! I am very aware of environmental issues, including the impact of fast fashion, so I am very proud to have found it in a charity shop. The scarf is a gift from my sister and has followed me almost everywhere since.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently in the writing stage of my PhD, with my thesis slowly taking shape. It took much longer than I anticipated, but I have been told that it’s actually pretty rare for PhDs to only take three years! In parallel, I am working on developing the small animation and video studio I created with my sister, FineLines Studio. I am particularly interested in collaborating with heritage institutions, if we can!

Could you mention a project, an institution that, or a person who has been important or inspiring for your career and why?

I have met a lot of people that had a profound impact on the direction I took my career in, I wish I could acknowledge them all. But for the sake of a concise answer, I will have to say the Musée Fabre, in Montpellier, France. I had a month-and-a-half long internship in their exhibitions service, and it was game-changing to me. I got to see how a museum functioned behind the scenes, understand the amount of work that went into making an exhibition, participate in some amazing projects, and talk to fantastic people, from the curatorial team to the administrative assistants. It gave me not only a view in the museum world, but also a sense that I wanted to be part of it, and thus a sense of purpose.