For Rosetta Pavone, celebrating female migrants is important because the lack of appreciation of the women who left Italy behind to follow their husbands and families to Australia in search of a better life “really bothered her”.

“Where are the women that are working in the restaurants until late at night … looking after the family? There was nothing said about the women,” she said.

“I want the women to be acknowledged for the role that they played … they were really the whole backbone of the family … the unsung heroes.”

Pavone said her artwork aims at celebrating the strength and talents of women who often go “unappreciated and unknown” by most historic accounts of the Italian post-war migration struggle.

Past collections have included hand-made fabrics sewn by Italian women alongside depictions of intricately patterned furniture modelled from the ever-abstract concept, “bella figura”.

This included displaying a clean house with a room of valuable furniture for guests to see as a way for a woman to show her family’s success to visitors.

Along with female migrants, this idea was an accompanying source of inspiration for Pavone’s art which features representations of elaborate furniture complete with detailed patterns. 

Nostalgia (2011), from the ‘Bella Figura series’; mixed medium on canvas board;150x165 cm. (Photo supplied)

For Pavone, who arrived in Australia after the war when she was just three years old, the essence of being Italian is encompassed by bella figura. 

“The idea of being presented well and being seen to be doing the right thing underpins what it means to be Italian,” she said.

While her art draws inspiration from significant female figures in her own life, such as her mother, grandmother and aunties, Pavone hopes her work relates to women of all cultures who have experienced the hardship of moving to a new place, even today.

“Every culture experiences that traumatic adjustment of leaving their home,” she said.

“In my era, we left to search for a better life, but now they’re leaving to save their lives.

“I would like to bring attention to all women and their talents and grit, that have been strong in the face of adversity.”

Pavone’s work with women’s hand-made items and elaborate patterns has also helped shape her most recent venture of working with religious iconography.

In a small space in her home dedicated to the historic practice, Pavone creates her icons just like the Italian masters in 14th -century Florence.

As she learned while studying art in Florence, Pavone uses a high-quality timber surface which she sands after applying multiple layers of rabbit skin glue mixed with gesso, oils and cloves until the timber is extremely smooth.

She then transfers her chosen image onto the smooth board before recreating the image’s dynamic colours with self-ground natural powder pigments from Florence mixed with egg yolk, water and vinegar. 

Girls of Pompeii; mosaic on hand printed board with egg tempera; series of six panels, 30x30 cm each​. (Photo supplied)

“A true iconographer stays with the techniques of the time,” Pavone said.

Since returning to school to complete her art studies, more than 130 like-minded art lovers have joined Pavone in Italy as part of an annual month-long study tour of Florence that she organises. 

“This is purely something I have created to share with other people,” she said.

While she admits there is a big difference between her contemporary art and her iconography, Pavone maintains the ancient religious practice is connected with her modern work because of her Italian background and migration experience.

“It was very hard for me growing up in that culture [in Australia]; hence my whole art practice is based on that journey from being a migrant to who we are now,” she said. 

“The inspiration I get from the strength of women is always present.”

Pavone returned to school as an adult to complete her art degree because she left school at the age of 14 to begin full-time work.

The 64-year-old continued working until she sold her hair and beauty business at age 45 to pursue her studies, with the support of her family.

“After a time of not knowing who I was and having to work, it’s my time now to express myself.”