Fantastical ceramics made from a world of materials
- Silvia makes complex ceramic sculptures that juxtapose multiple forms and textures
- She trained extensively in ceramic art before setting up her own studio
- Research and experimentation inform her designs and creative objects
Silvia Piani was born into a family in which everyone shared a passion for art, and her father taught ceramic technology at the School of Art in Faenza. Silvia trained at the Ceramic Art Institute G. Ballardini and the Istituto Superiore per l’Industrie Artistiche (ISIA) in Faenza, after which she worked for Bertozzi & Casoni, famous for its artistic ceramic sculptures. “This experience was a turning point in my life,” she says. This is where she learnt a great variety of techniques and today research continues to drive her approach. “Everything starts from the study of raw materials, grinding them and firing them until the desired result is achieved,” she explains. Silvia has been teaching ceramics in schools since 2018 and she opened her workshop in Imola in 2020. Her wish for the future? “I wish that there were more opportunities and more workshops for young people who love this craft.”
Interview
- Why did you choose to become a ceramicist?
- Ceramics is a magical combination of art and chemistry, that fascinates me. It is an art form that does not always receive the recognition it deserves. Sometimes, because of its millenary history, it is wrongly considered a field in which nothing new can be discovered.
- What techniques do you prefer applying?
- I specialise in ceramic technology and in the creation of natural sculptures and textures. I love details and the precision required to make details. I prefer to use an innovative technique called thermoforming of industrial frits, which consists of low-temperature moulding and forming while the material is still warm.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- Tradition is my starting point and knowledge of ceramic technology requires an understanding of traditional ceramic making processes. In parallel, I love innovation. I like to try to make things that nobody tried before, things that are now possible thanks to new machinery and materials.
- How would you define your work?
- Special and exciting. In my practice, every mistake is precious: it helps me to understand more, teaches me something new that will be useful later.
Silvia Piani is a master artisan: she began her career in 2012 and she started teaching in 2018
Works
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Silvia Piani
