About Us

California Foundation for International Global Arts has the commitment to support the most outstanding established and emerging artists from the international art world. Italian born Filippo M. Floridia D'Altavilla, Art Director and Curator of the former Galerie D'Art International, will continue all the artistic activities initiated long time ago with more space and scope for the education programs.
Through the experience of its Directors, the California Foundation for International Global Arts has developed an international network of government and corporate contacts and an extensive background in the publishing of Art Books, Limited Edition Portfolios, including poetry and graphic prints. Filippo Floridia has been the Coordinator and Curator of more than 250 Exhibitions worldwide in cooperation with Institutes of Culture, Museums, Public Institutions, Foundations, Venice Biennale, Festival dei 2 Mondi in Spoleto, Teatro Alla Scala in Milan , and more.
Floridia's experience in organizing began in 1973, through his former galleries, which he owned in Milan and Paris . He has organized many historical and anthological exhibitions for Artists like Max Ernst, Man Ray, Mario Sironi, Lucio Fontana, Wilfredo Lam, Jose Luis Cuevas, Jean Arp, Cery Richards, Arman, Jiri Kolar, Graham Sutherland, Alphons Mucha, and the Surrealists: Magritte, Masson, Miro, Dali, Marcel Jean, Picabia, Bellmer, Duchamp, Wout Hoeboer and others, and the Futurists groups, Balla, Boccioni, Prampolini, Depero, Marinetti, and more.

Later on in his career, Floridia represented and promoted new artists like Jean Messagier, Miguel Ybanez, Eugenio Carmi, Savinio, Viviani , Del Pezzo, Emilio Scanavino, etc. Over the last 10 years, he has been a part of many artistic activities in San Diego and Tijuana, like: Artwalk '94 - Curatorial Contribution for the Palladium Exhibition; Curator for the San Diego Opera at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park for the Opera "EI Conquistador"; Curator for the Atheaneum in La Jolla for Exhibition of Miguel Ybanez dedicated to "Carmen" by Bizet. Cooperating as curator of events for International Exhibitions is also part of Floridia's vast background - at the Cultural Center in Tijuana, and Mexican Institute of Culture of Baja California, Special Curator of International Exhibitions at Casa de la Cultura in Tijuana, Lectures at Mira Costa College about Art and Editing, Art Director of" Arte Sin Limite" (Mexico) - a non-profit Foundation for the Arts. He Cooperated with COVA (Combined Organization for the Visual Arts) to organize a Bi-National Exhibition of Mexican Art in San Diego , and USA artists in Baja Mexico .

Board of Directors

Filippo M. Floridia D'Altavilla, CEO and Artistic Director

ARTISTIC - CULTURAL INVOLVEMENT 1973 - 2008

In the early 1970's, I started to be an art collector - modern and contemporary art, (Dada, constructivist, futurist, surrealist, abstract art), paintings, drawings, gouaches, sculptures, and graphics.

In 1973, I established a contemporary art gallery, “Zarathustra Arte Incontro”, in Milano. I was the owner and art director. Over the next thirteen years, the gallery grew and became important. It was known for it's dealing and exchanging of art exhibitions with other galleries, museums and cultural institutes around the world (Europe, Japan , South America , USA , and Mexico ).

In cooperation with the Council Department for the Arts of the City of Milano , I organized the exchanging of art exhibitions of paintings and sculptures with the Contemporary Art Museum of Madrid, the Bouburgh-Centre Pompidou-and Grand Palais of Paris, Kunstverein of Berlin, Art Academy of Zagrab, Contemporary Art Museum of San Paulo, Goubelkian Foundation of Lisbon and more.

as W.Lam, Arp, Fontana , Man Ray, Sutherland, Dali, Magritte, Max Ernst, Kolar, Cuevas, Corzas, Messagier, Savinio, Marcel Jean, Murtic, Djamonia, Carmi, Arman, Sironi , Del Pezzo, Wout Hoeboer, Scanavino, Corneille, Consagra, Atzuma, and Ybanez and more. My gallery also presented currents such as Dada, Futurist (Balla, Boccioni, Depero), Surrealist, etc.

At the same time, I proposed new emergent contemporary artists of many countries in my gallery like Papasso, Macenni, Cavalieri, Pozzi, Hsiaochin, Fujibe, Kilmer, Herbrichi, Vasconi, Nanda Vico, Francese, Dangelo, Margonari, etc. Many art critics collaborated with Zarathustra: Sanesi, Munari, Ballo, Argan, Restany, Dorfles, Belloli, Accame, Shauer, and Martin. Personal editorial cooperation with the French Magazine “Cimaise”.

From 1980 through 1982, I was curator of exhibitions (of plastic-figurative arts) for the “Festival Dei Due Mondi” in Spoleto, cooperating with the President of the Festival, Gioucarlo Menotti.

During the life of my gallery, I organized monthly symposiums, conferences, meetings, and lectures with artists, writers, and poets. In cooperation with Teatro Alla Scala and Conservatorio Musicale of Milano, I presented, in Zaranthustra, concerts of classical music (from the XII century to the XX century) and ballets. Every concert was introduced from a lecture that represented the relations between music, architecture, and plastic-figurative arts.

Zaranthustra was the first private gallery in Italy to have the support of sponsors such as, Olivetti, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Montedison and many other private industries, because of the quality and the high cultural level. In 1978, I started a second gallery, with a partner to be a manager, in Paris called “Galerie D'Art International”. The purpose of the second gallery was to increase and promote more exchanges of artists between Italy and France .

In my gallery, I organized auctions of contemporary art twice a year. Most of the time they were “Benefit Auctions” in favor of children, Institutes of Cancer Research, FAO, Unesco etc.

Also, I was editor of catalogs, monographies, art books and graphic art works (limited editions - high quality). During this period of time, I attended many art classes at Castello Sforzesco of Milano, School of Art of Urbino. Brera Academy, Deutche Institute (Goethe Institute - art section) in Milano and Munchen.

1992 I have enjoyed being part of the Cultural Community in the city of San Diego . On several occasions, I dedicated myself as a consultant, coordinator or curator to realize artistic events. Just to mention a few:

1994 ARTWALK – Curatorial contribution of the exhibition at the Palladium.

1995 Curator at the Cultural Center in Tijuana of the exhibition dedicated to the opera “Carmen”, Including 20 etchings and the original sketches of the Costumes and Scenographies realized in 1984 by Miguel Ybanez for the Teatro Alla Scala in Milano. The same exhibition was presented also at the Athoeneum in La Jolla with the cooperation of the San Diego Opera. Following this was the role of curator of a special exhibition of photography for the San Diego Opera at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park for the Opera “El Conquistador”.

1997

to Artistic Director of “Arte Sin Limite” ( Mexico ) – a non-profit

2003

Foundation for the Arts, which promotes International Cultural Projects.

1998

Cooperation with Mira Costa College , holding a series of lectures dedicated to Arts & Editing.Opened new Gallery in Carlsbad , “Galerie D'Art International”.In Carlsbad I started Galerie D'Art International (USA), continuingThe tradition of the Former galleries (Milano and Paris) organizingExhibitions proposing artists and art exchange among USA – Mexico- Europe – Canada .

2003

Relocation of Galerie D'Art International to Solana Beach , CA . The new gallery, in the heart of the Cedros Design District, has 2,400 square feet of floor space dedicated to exhibitions (and 18 ft. ceilings). The Gallery owns a large collection of Modern and Contemporary Art, paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints by Artists from Europe, USA , and Mexico . Galerie D'Art International represents and promotes Artists all over the world. The philosophy of the Gallery is to have “an International vision of the Artistic cultural world as a global project” and to organize events of different cultural significance: classical music concerts, poetry readings, lectures, round table art discussions, book signings, video presentations, and exhibitions of new alternative research – operating as a multi-purpose center.Galerie D'Art International is also specialized in the organization of Contemporary and Modern Art Auctions.

2001 to 2004

Curator of International Exhibitions for the City of Tijuana IMAC – Instituto Municipal De Arte Y Cultura – at the Casa de la Cultura in Tijuana, B.C.

2005 to Current

In the last 3 years I am part of the Comites (Comitato Italiani All'Estero) Los Angeles – San Diego . Councillor elected by the Italian residents in Southern California to represent the loco-Italien community, working strictly with the general Consulate of Italy in Los Angeles. From 2006, cultural advisor of the committee.Through the GDAI, I started cooperation with the Mexican Institute of Culture of Baja California ( Mexico ), the cultural branch of the Government of the state of B.C., I invited as a curator of international exhibitions to propose artists from USA and Europe and organize special events in Baja California and Mexico .

2007 to Current

I founded the Californiae Foundation for International Global Arts, a non-profit public charitable Foundation 501 C 3 – with the mission to educate and enhance the life of local, regional, national and world wide audiences by offering artistic cultural events throughout the year - to support the full spectrum of arts and artists including contemporary visual arts exhibitions, performing arts, classical music and opera concerts, art history, literature, poetry, lectures, classes and films. Californiae Foundation for International Global Arts offers to the community a wide range of art opportunities including the exchange of art and ideas with other countries to share and expand globally the understanding and appreciation for art. As a CEO, executive director and curator of Californiae Foundation for International Global Arts I want to encourage every form of cultural expression as education principle, support artists in need and work closely with the other non profit organization to help to achieve mutual goals. Californiae Foundation for International Global Arts is offering as well a successful monthly series of opera concerts with their own “Solana Beach Ensemble”, a group of opera singers and musicians created by me 3 years ago, which has already been awarded by the city of Solana Beach with a community grant to support their programs.

Javier Magdaleno, Treasurer

Javier S. Magdaleno

Javier was born in Guanajuato , Mexico . Elder son of Rafael Magdaleno Chacon, a super dedicated teacher who founded more than 100 schools in his home state and Guadalupe Soto Mendoza, also teacher, a beautiful niece of the famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera .Javier holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Mexico , an English Teaching Certificate from the Mexican North American Institute Cultural Relations of Mexico City and graduate studies at Purdue University and University of Miami, FL. He held different technical positions with Monsanto , Dow Chemical , Abbott Labs . Warner Lambert (Pfyzer) in Mexico , and as Latin American Regional Manufacturing Director for Abbott and G. D. Searle.

A California resident since 1993, Javier is now engaged in sales of financial and asset protection instruments. He is a passionate performance and visual arts lover and founder member of The Californiae Foundation for International Global Arts. 

Alessandra Colfi, Secretary

Being especially interested in the therapeutic effect of art making, Alessandra obtained her Master's Degree in Fine Art, with emphasis on Expressive Art Therapy. Alessandra's creative process serves not only to achieve esthetically pleasing results, but it is a healing journey with love, through which mind settles into a state of relaxation that is a source of boundless creativity, guidance and inner peace.Alessandra discovered and cultivated her artistic calling since she was a young girl growing up in a small village in northern Italy,

Alessandra moved to San Diego from Italy , instinctively following a calling for a life of balance, meaningful pursuits and involvement with the community. With a BA in Linguistics and after a 15-year career in the fashion industry, life experiences brought her to create a new path, by shifting her artistic and creative passion towards a blend of art and emotional balance and healing.

She is drawn to colors and textures of fabrics and hand-made papers and often finds inspiration for her work from recyclable, earth sustaining, natural materials and old treasures. The bold strokes with acrylic paint join the depth and textures of torn paper or clay in her mixed media work, which represent the exploration of her passion to communicate love and joy for healing and peace.

Alessandra is constantly refining her skills through programs and mentoring offered by the best professionals in the field. She is now completing her Ph.D. in Expressive Arts Therapy, in order to deepen her experience in the therapeutic use of the arts and to assist others with their life challenges, professional/personal blocks and life's losses & changes.

Committees and Volunteers

Visual Arts, Music, Education, Special Events, Promotions and Fundraising

Bella Sanchez-Floridia, Alexis Dixon, Dirke Johnson, Mariza Sanchez, Monique Kunewalder, Marina Bothwell, Jen Yi Wang, Alejandro Alatorre, Lincoln Higgie, James McLaughlin, Daniela Biscaro, Beverly Weurding, Dr. Jesus Rodriquez, Sean Curtis, Dennis Ellman, Aleksandr Agamirzov, Tom and Kathleen Oberjat, David Marshman, Joyce Gammon, Waltrud Beelitz, Geraldine Wood-Miksch, Susan Sayler.

Your inquiries are welcome by voice at  Phone:(858) 677- 0367 |  Fax: (858) 677 - 1796 | ca