DELFINA PIGNATIELLO PRESENTS NYMPHS, A SILENT ODE TO SISTERHOOD
The artist and Olympic swimmer will present her first solo photography exhibition. The series, created with synchronized swimmers, required strict coordination to achieve precision and visual coherence.
This Thursday, February 26, artist and Olympic swimmer Delfina Pignatiello will present her first solo photography exhibition at Galería PHUYU (Buenos Aires). Winner of the Second Prize at the Latin America Youth Award in the Walk of Water 2025 competition by One Water, the body of work titled Ninfas (Nymphs) portrays a group of synchronized swimmers exploring the body, movement, and femininity, immersed in the density of water.
The swimmers in these photographs appear to dance within a dreamlike vision, their forces intertwining into the fabric of a single body that exorcises the beliefs that have fractured sisterhood among women for centuries.
Behind the lens—and underwater—stands not only the photographer, Pignatiello, but also an all-female technical team. “From childhood, women are taught to compete for external validation, especially male validation, and to see one another as threats rather than allies. These patterns fracture female solidarity. Growing up in high-performance sports as an Olympic swimmer, I experienced this firsthand and built a personality that at one point no longer felt authentic. Over time, and through my engagement with art, I understood that the strongest bonds are born from empathy, honesty, and listening. I discovered that when the veil of rivalry falls away, on the other side there is a sister,” the artist explains.
Nymphs (from ancient Greek) are elemental beings—spirits of water, fire, and earth. Often associated with rivers, springs, forests, and mountains, they embody the spirit of the natural world and evoke both the complexity and the beauty of transformation.
The project emerges as a striking new presence within the local art scene, both for its technique and its emotional force. The photo shoot was conducted underwater with a lighting setup combining frontal sources and backlighting to create depth while maintaining clarity. Without oxygen tanks, each shot was captured during single-breath immersions. This approach required brief shooting intervals and strict coordination with the athletes and crew to achieve precision and visual coherence.
Delfina Pignatiello is 25 years old and lives in Buenos Aires. She is a photographer, director, and actress working in film, advertising, and music. Her practice centers on the exploration of bodies, water, femininity, and identity. Before turning to art, she devoted her life to sports: she was a member of the Argentine National Swimming Team and an Olympic athlete until 2021. In 2024, she published the book Diarios de Delfín, based on her experiences in swimming, which was declared of Social Communication Interest by the Buenos Aires City Legislature. She trained in photography with Iara Kremer and William Kano, and more recently in writing and literature with Samanta Schweblin, which inspired her to approach new narratives through visual language.
Ninfas will be on view from February 26 through April 30 at Galería PHUYU, Esmeralda 988, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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