Born and raised in Paris, France, Daniella Foletto inherited her artist talents and creative energy from her Italian father and Swedish mother and she began drawing when she was only two years old. Foletto enjoyed coloring, drawing, and painting when she was young, but let the hobby fall by the wayside as a young adult. Still, her marriage to an American diplomat with whom she was able to travel the world allowed her to appreciate the artistic heritages of different cultures. On a visit with her husband to her hometown, Foletto was approached by Jean Negulesco, the famous Hungarian film director, who encouraged her to become an actor. She was soon signed by 20th Century Fox Studios and began acting in television and film and even earned an Emmy Award nomination. She also had the privilege of working with esteemed actors in the United States and Italy, including Richard Burton, Ugo Tognassi, and Rossano Brazzi.

Despite the remarkable career Foletto was building as an actress, she felt more fulfilled as a painter. Determined to return to what she called her “one true love,” Foletto left her acting career and, soon after, her marriage crumbled. At this point, she threw herself wholeheartedly into painting and enrolled at the Art Institute of Southern California. It was here that she met the man who would become her mentor, Sueo Serisawa.

With Serisawa’s tutelage and support, Foletto became a remarkable artist. Her paintings cover a wide range of styles and subjects, from impressionist landscapes to figurative portraits to series inspired by ancient cave paintings in France and Africa. Since her time as Serisawa’s mentee, Foletto has exhibited her artwork around the United States and her paintings can be found in countless private and corporate collections.