Mauro Defrancesco and the Quiet Precision of UFOFABRIK
There is a certain discipline in vision that distinguishes Mauro Defrancesco’s work with UFOFABRIK Contemporary Art Gallery. Rooted in the Dolomites and reaching out toward the international art world, UFOFABRIK doesn’t announce itself with noise, but with clarity.
Founded and directed by Defrancesco, the gallery has carved out a reputation for its focused curatorial sensibility bringing to light emerging and mid-career artists whose practices speak with intelligence, precision, and purpose. It is a space that resists spectacle in favour of substance, reflecting Mauro’s own belief in the value of long-term vision over short-lived hype.
What makes Defrancesco’s role so compelling is his ability to balance a distinctly European restraint with a forward-looking, global gaze. UFOFABRIK operates not just as a gallery, but as a thoughtful incubator for artistic discourse, often participating in residencies, open calls, and collaborative projects that invite depth rather than surface appeal.
To speak of Mauro Defrancesco is to speak of a certain kind of quiet integrity—an art world figure who places the work and its context above the noise. In a time when so much feels overstated, UFOFABRIK remains elegantly precise: a gallery with something to say, and the grace to let the art speak for itself.
A conversation with Mauro Defrancesco
Inaugurated in 2009, Ufofabrik Contemporay Art Gallery directed by Mauro Defrancesco, the project deals exclusively with contemporary art fairs and management for artists.
The gallery's goal is to create an independent artistic production center, of high quality, through careful listening and interaction with artists.
Can you tell us some points of your many years of activity?
Among the first Italian galleries post Lehman Brothers, while I opened the gallery, the economy was going through an unprecedented storm, businesses and banks around the world were closing.
During 16 years of work, the international program of exhibitions and art fairs has seen alternating exhibitions of emerging and established artists.
It seems like an eternity has passed, the work in these years has completely changed, partly due to new technologies; those who deal with research are a sensitive antenna that quickly perceives changes, adapting is a whole other matter.
The gallery uses alternative economic models to the usual art system, can you give us some clarifications?
Nobody invents anything, some ideas come directly from the experiences of the 60s/70s and are adapted to current needs and tools.
We are not a vanity gallery, we are a collaborative project, through management the artists ethically support the projects, receiving opportunities, training and know-out.
For fairs we adopt crowdfunding and the traditional formula of the art prize, through an online call, the prize consists of exhibiting the works in the gallery stand.
ART4ROOM - a work of art in exchange for a stay in an apartment in the Dolomites - Italy.
For information: www.ufofabrik.co.uk
Future projects?
Mainly we are preparing the next autumn season of fairs and some special projects.
Among the new features, the participation in the heart of Tuscany at Lucca Art Fair, 26-28 September 2025.
How is the world of the various art fairs going today?
Fairs are the gallery's main activity, an important moment for sales, communication and contact with collectors. We regularly participate in contemporary art fairs in Italy and Europe. Often looking for new markets and roads less traveled by other galleries. In the Italian panorama, medium and small fairs are in difficulty, new ideas and innovation are lacking, a little humility and studying suitable solutions would be useful.
Do you work with curators?
No, the curator is a taxi driver who takes you wherever he wants.
How many artists do you follow? Can you name some?
Currently 30 artists, to avoid offending anyone you can find the complete and updated list on the gallery's website.
