Sculpting nature and its transformations
- Cinzia creates fantastical textile sculptures
- She uses natural fibres and discarded materials
- Her practice combines tradition and experimental techniques
Based in Sacile in Northeastern Italy, Cinzia Li Volsi is a textile artist who draws inspiration from nature and its extraordinary capacity for transformation. Her sculptures, which evoke fantastical organisms, reference natural elements yet also possess an unreal quality, projecting viewers into future scenarios of change and regeneration. Sensitive to environmental issues, Cinzia engages with the ecological revolution through the reuse of materials, reducing the impact of consumption and giving new life to everyday objects. "My works reflect on the fragility of the environment and the uncertainty of the future, while also conveying hope and renewal," she says. Through Cinzia's use of traditional techniques and recycled plastics and materials, her sculptural organisms become an act of resistance and an invitation to collective reflection on change and the environment.
Interview
- How did you decide to pursue textile sculpting?
- My journey began with a passion for weaving and working by hand with threads and different materials. I studied textile design at the Art Institute of Udine and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Sculpture became a daily practice of discipline and creativity. International exhibitions marked the transition from solitary research to a professional artistic identity.
- Is there a distinctive feature that makes your work recognisable?
- My small-scale sculptures combine traditional textile techniques such as weaving, knitting and filet, with experimental approaches. I use natural fibres and everyday materials treated as threads. Through repurposing and upcycling, discarded materials are transformed into creative, refined and expressive artworks.
- What do you love most about your practice?
- I love the creative process itself. A work is never fully planned in advance: materials interact with me and sometimes guide the final form. Even within a series, each piece is unique, shaped by changing thoughts and emotions and by the freedom of making.
- What has been a special moment in your professional life?
- Special moments come with recognition, such as being selected for exhibitions. Being chosen for Miniartextil and shows curated by DcomeDesign confirmed the relevance of my work. Appreciation from collectors is equally meaningful, showing the work resonates beyond me.
Cinzia Li Volsi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1987
