Valentina Stocco

VS CERAMICS

Ceramicist

Susanna Pozzoli©Michelangelo Foundation

Elements of the lagoon at play

Valentina enjoys creating utilitarian objects
Her feelings for Venice permeate her creations
She likes to experiment with glazes of her own which harness natural local materials

Valentina Stocco began working with ceramics at London's Turning Earth school in 2017, specialising in the technique of pottery turning and high temperature work. After several years of experimentation in the British capital, she returned to Venice and opened her workshop in 2020. Valentina observes nature, architecture, textures, colours and materials in the Venetian lagoon, re-visiting them with her own take on everyday pottery. She pursues a creative form of research which features a deep bond with the local area. She combines her pottery work with teaching, which helps foster the ongoing learning process that allows her to evolve. Today, Valentina experiments with glazes made from the ashes of native plants, shells and cuttlefish bones.

Interview

©NicolettaFornaro

How did you first come across ceramics?: Ceramics came into my life at a time when I felt disconnected from myself, both on a creative and personal level. Above all, practising at the potter's wheel made me find my centre again, a safe place where I could express myself and experiment.
What does working as a ceramicist mean to you?: It means working in harmony with all four elements: earth, the material we shape; water, which is needed at all stages; air, which must be constantly monitored and modified according to the season, the humidity of the environment and the size of the object; and fire, which works the alchemy of transformation.
Is there anything about what you do that people are not usually aware of?: The pottery process is all about patience and acceptance. Failure is always just around the corner. At any given moment when you are handling the elements, things can go wrong and you may have to start again.
How is your craft linked to the local area?: In my pieces, I try to recreate colours that reflect atmospheres typically found in the Venetian lagoon. I analysed a map of Veneto's soil with a colleague and friend of mine. We found the clay in the sandbanks north of Venice, where the rivers once flowed, and I am experimenting with glazes made from natural materials.

Valentina Stocco is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2020