A dedication to retro ceramic-making
- Giulia has had a rich and diverse training as a ceramicist in Italy and abroad
- Colour and texture are the hallmarks of her production
- She set up her studio, Keramô, in 2020
In her life as in her work, Giulia Bonora seeks freedom and independence. These are the two forces that led her to discover and then devote herself to the art of ceramics. In her practice, she experiments with various techniques, from wheel-throwing to hand carving and kuri nuki. Giulia lives in the pre-Alpine valley of northern Italy, surrounded by nature, which she gets a lot of inspiration from, in particular from the mineral world. "The rough shapes and bright colours of my works reflect the irregular material of rocks and the colour varieties of semi-precious stones," she explains. When she creates something on commission, Giulia tries to adapt the colours and shapes of her ceramics to the environment in which they will be displayed, without giving up on her artistic taste and signature aesthetic.
Interview
- Do you remember when you thought of dedicating yourself to this craft?
- Perhaps inspired by my great-grandmother who attended the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, I decided to pursue an artistic craft career. Thanks to the Ibis kiln, I discovered ceramics.
- What training did you receive?
- I took my first steps as a ceramicist with the artist Giorgio Robustelli. I worked in his workshop almost every day for about three years, to discover and understand this wonderful art. The artist Angelo Zilio taught me how to work on the potter's wheel. Then I followed a course in decoration at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. A lot of trips and European competitions took me around Italy and Europe where I learned new techniques and enriched my skills.
- Is your work linked to where you are from?
- Until the middle of the 20th century, Cunardo was a production centre for ceramics. The soil is rich in clay and water. Today things have changed a lot, but I like to think that with my work I contribute to reviving an ancient local tradition. My production also maintains a link with the past because I combine the classic potter's wheel technique with other techniques such as Japanese kuri nuki.
- What does ‘artfully made’ mean to you?
- I think this definition is directly related to working with hands. A handmade piece is necessarily something into which the maker has put passion and applied their knowledge and experience. It is the opposite of automation and standardisation.
Giulia Bonora is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2023
Where
Giulia Bonora
