She received her BFA (1998) in painting and ceramics from The New York State School of Art and Design at Alfred University and MA (2002) and MFA (2003) in painting from the University of Iowa. Gianna was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant and residencies at Yaddo, MacDowell, and The Bemis Center for Contemporary Art. She served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the New York State College of Art and Design at Alfred University, and was an Artist in Residence at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, VT.