Tag Archives: Italian avant garde

Fausto, Fabbricatore and Fausto

 

The  Italian ceramic arts of Fausto Melotti, Michele Fabbricatore and Fausto Salvi :

 

Several generations of ceramicists who encapsulate the freedom, spontaneity and flair of the Italian aesthetic.

La Pittura, 1939 - 1940-Fausto Melotti

‘La Pittura ‘ – Fausto Melotti

 

Fausto Melotti

 

Fausto Melotti was born into a musical family and he initially studied physics, mathematics and electrical engineering. In 1928, at the age of 27, he enrolled in the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, where he trained alongside Fontana with the sculptor Adolfo Wildt. Melotti’s first experiences as a ceramist occurred in 1929 after meeting the renowned architect, designer, writer, and ceramics enthusiast, Gio Ponti, who at that time was the artistic director for the Ricardo Ginori ceramic and porcelain manufactory. Melotti assisted Ponti with the execution of several of his designs, and the collaboration marked the beginning of his twenty-year relationship with the firm. While he would continue to work with ceramics for his entire career, his most concentrated involvement with the medium came in the aftermath of World War II. After discovering that his studio had been destroyed in the bombardment of Milan, he renewed his practice by renting out a kiln, thus initiating a fifteen-year period in which he only produced ceramics and terracotta sculptures.

Melotti was recognized, both nationally and internationally, as his contemporaries Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Louise Bourgeois and Lucio Fontana, as a key figure in the field of modern and contemporary sculpture, being distinguished for having been, from the beginning of the 30’s, a significant contributor in the renewal and development of the plastic language and its materials. Using terracotta, faience and plaster sculptures in mixed media including iron, ceramic and stainless steel works, drawings and sketches, the sculptural path 0f Fausto Melotti was closely linked to the world of visual arts. He merged the classical traditions with the trends of the European avant-garde, mixing disparate strains of 20th-century Italian art from Futurist modernity to the metaphysical elements of the Surrealists.

 

Fausto Mellotti with a groupp of his white biomorphic sculptures

 Fausto Melotti in his studio in Milan, 70’s

Photo Ugo Mulas

 

 

 

Contrapunto VIII--1971-Fausto Melotti

Contrapunto VIII – Fausto Melotti

-1971-

 

 

Fausto Melotti-Copetta-1950 ceramic bowl

Fausto Melotti – Copetta

1950

 

 

fausto-melotti sculpture

Female sculpture – Fausto Melotti

 

 

'Peacock'-vase,-Fausto Melotti

 Fausto Melotti – ‘Peacock Vase’

1960

 

 

Coppa-con-orlo-mosso-1955 - Fausto Melotti

‘Coppa con orlo mosso’ – Fausto Melotti

1955

 

 

El almacen de ideas-1980 Fausto Melotti

El almacen de ideas – Fausto Melotti

1980

 

 

Fausto-Melotti-Cavaliere-c1945

Fausto Melotti – ‘Cavaliere’

c 1945

 

 

fausto-melotti-con-le-sue-opere-fotografato-da-ugo-mulas

Fausto Melotti photo by Ugo Mulas

 

 

Fausto Melotti Vaso Ceramica

  Vaso Ceramica Fausto Melotti

 

 

 

 

Heretics and-Saints and Bishops--1952 by Fausto melotti

‘Heretics and Saints and Bishops’ — 1952 by Fausto Melotti

A Teatrini representing a  miniature “theater” –  small and condensed worlds that use abstract and figurative elements to convey narratives. Melotti’s miniature theatres tended to retain a sense of ambiguity and  challenge the viewer to construct the drama.

 

 

Fausto-Melotti,-Vaso-Civetta-circa 1935

Fausto Melotti,- Vaso Civetta

28 inches height

circa 1965

 

 

Leone-circa-1975 Fausto Melotti

‘Leone’ — Fausto Melotti

circa 1975

 

 

In-mostra-le-opere-di-Fausto-Melotti_gal_landscape

Fausto Melotti vase

 

 

 

Kore-1954 by Fausto Melotti

Kore by Fausto Melotti

1954

CONSADORI Fausto-Melotti modernist vase

Fausto Melotti modernist vase

Ceramic cup-Fausto-Melotti

Sculptured goblet – Fausto Melotti

 

 

 

Sculpture-Noche-africana---1973 Fausto Melotti

 ‘Noche Africana’ – Fausto Melotti

Melotti’s free standing metal sculptures favoured minimal lines sparsely interspersed with various motifs.

1973

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Fausto Salvi

 

Fausto discovered ceramics in the late 80’s, attending courses at the State Institute of Art of Ceramics in Faenza. ” When I began to work in ceramics, drawing was all-important for me. I enjoyed drawing on the white surface of majolica, being smooth and absorbent. I used to inscribe any surface it offered, plates, cylinders, jugs, vases. Any shape responded to my need to express myself through my drawings. Only later did I learn to communicate through shape and volume, I began to study the expressive possibilities of clay and modeling, more carefully. At the same time I began to think about the surfaces of my pieces as abstract textures and I started to use pure pigment. As I have worked in different series; I have never wanted to concentrate on only one of the elements I was exploring. The presence or absence of drawing has enabled me to communicate very different feelings and messages.”

During an exhibition of Australian contemporary ceramics at the Faenza Museum in the 90’s, Fausto was struck by how the absence of cumbersome traditions was really an advantage in terms of lightness and spontaneity. Some of his pieces, like Melotti, show hints of classical influence, but most are refreshingly original and visually engaging.

 

 

 

Fausto Salvi majolica sculpture

‘Down’  – Fausto Salvi

2006

 

 

03-Coppia Fausto Salvi

Fausto Salvi – Coppia

 

 

 

Grottesco-Fausto Salvi

‘Grottesco’ – Fausto Salvi

 

 

 

Fausto Salvi aluminium foli on ceramic sculpture 'A Big Surprise' -

‘A Big Surprise’ – Fausto Salvi

– painted ceramic covered by aluminium foils

2009

 

 

Fausto Salvi contemporary vase

 Contemporary vase – Fausto Salvi

 

 

 

contemporary sculpture Fausto Salvi

 ‘Vegetale’ 

Fausto Salvi  sculpture from the Ten Year’s After exhibition in Milan, 2013

 

 

 

Magic Wood - Fausto Salvi

Fausto Salvi with Magic Wood ceramic sculpture

2009

 

 

fausto-salvi-ten-years-after-officine-saffi-magic-wood

‘Magic Wood’ (Bosco Magico) –  painted ceramic covered with aluminium foils – Fausto Salvi

max height : 370 cm – max diameter : 45 cm

 

 

 

Fausto Salvi Italian sculpture yellow figure

Contemporary sculpture “Greenhouse” – referring to a green house in Milan where Fausto lived that was swallowed up by urban development.

2013

 

 

Fausto-Salvi-ceramics-'bella',-1993

‘Bella ‘ – Fausto Salvi

 

 

 

2012. Korea Fausto Salvi abstract puzzle sculpture

 ‘Korea’ –  Fausto Salvi

2012

 

 

 

'All I Have To Say' - Fausto Salvi - ceramic thought bubble

‘All I Have To Say’ – Fausto Salvi

– glazed ceramic with gold, NY 2006

 

 

Lanscape Korea 2012 Fausto Salvi - urban density sculpture

Fausto Salvi – ceramic bas relief

Greenhouse exhibition

 

 

le Belle - Fausto Salvi

‘le Belle’ – Fausto Salvi

 

 

 

Fausto-Salvi all sculpture two men in a heated discussion

Fausto Salvi puzzle bas relief

 

 

Italian sculpture One Way Fausto Salvi red and yellow wall art

‘One Way’ –  Fausto Salvi

2006

Fausto-Salvi sculpture exhibition - red and white abstract sculpture

 Fausto Salvi exhibition

Ψ

 

 

Michele Fabbricatore :

 

In 1992 at age of 20 MicheleI won a scholarship to do a pottery internship for three months in Maastricht in the Netherlands. In 1993 he began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.

” My work is a large cauldron of everything that I like and I’m passionate about: Calvin Orlando Furioso, from fairy tales to mythology, all revisited and reinterpreted with an eye for the ironic and surreal.  My mission is to retrieve the most authentic part of me and see with a child’s unconditioned perception, which looks at the world with awe and wonder. And to relive the gift of enchantment that governs all beauty. Feeding this treasure that we all have within, with a desire and a commitment in my life where I hope these values become conveyed through my work.”

 

Italy Michele-Fabbricatore mermaidsculpture

Michele Fabbricatore reclining Mermaid

 

 

Michele-Fabbricatore Knight on horse fighting dragon

‘San Giorgio e il Drago’ – Michele-Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Adamo_ed_Eva Michele Fabbricatore

 ‘Adamo ed Eva’ – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

Michele Fabbricatore ceramic panel

Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Michael-Fabbritore Arca ceramic sculpture

 Arca  – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

In Studio Michael-Fabbricatore

Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

Angelica_inseguita Michele Fabbricatore

Angelica inseguita – Michele Fabbricatore 

 

 

 

Michele Fabbricatore sculpture Marco Polo

Marco Polo  – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Michele-Fabbricatore contemporary sculpture Europa_e_Zeus

  Europa e Zeus    – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Michele_fabbricatore terracotta sculpture king and queen riding a horse

Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Alice by Michele-Fabbricatore

Alice   – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

Michele Fabbricatore Italian figurine Angelo

Angelo   – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

Michele-Fabbricatore Cavallo di Troia

Cavallo di Troia – Michele Fabbricatore

 

 

 

 

Michele-Fabbricatore Italian figurine sculpture

 Michele Fabbricatore abstract figurative sculpture

 

 

 

Re_e_Regina Michele Fabbricatore

‘Re e Regina’ – Michele Fabbricatore

Dedalo_e_Icaro Michele Fabbricatore

Dedalo e Icaro  by Michele Fabbricatore

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Michele Fabbricatore website here