The Italia Embassy's Italian Cultural Institute hosted an opening reception for ceramic artist Paolo Staccioli whose works will be on view at the Italian Embassy Piazza Italia until May 13, 2009. Rita Venturelli, the Director of the Italian Cultural institute welcomed Staccioli to a capacity crowd including local Italian American personalities.

Paolo Staccioli was born in Scandicci in 1943. In adolescence he devoted himself to painting and set up his first show in 1973. His first ceramic experiments with terracotta bas-reliefs date back to the late 80s.

Later, he began to experiment with the glazes and, under the guidance of the craftsman Umberto Santandrea, he began researching into lustres using earth, oxides and salt, through the reduction firing technique.

Proceeding with his research, Staccioli abandoned painting to transfer the subjects onto vases and other ceramic supports. Then came the first plastic experiences. In 2000 he modelled a large Horse ridden by a winged cherub, the bronze casting of which inaugurated the Parco Museo of Poggio Valicaia, Scandicci.

His studies reveal an ongoing research in the modelling of new figures, such as warriors, travellers on wagons and boats, through to the very recent cardinals.

One man shows: Private Gallery, S. Paul de Vence (2000); Sculture e Ceramiche, Budrio (2001); Private Gallery Man Arte, Paris (2001); Galleria Gagliardi, S. Gimignano (2002); Abbazia di S. Salvatore a Settimo, Badia a Settimo (2002); Galleria 2°, Suzzana (2002); Galleria Saga, The Hague (2002); Negozio R. Ginori , Florence (2002); Fiera dell’Arte, Montichiari (2003); Arte Fiera, Padua (2003); Fiera Parma (2003); “Immagina”, Fiera dell’Arte, Reggio Emilia (2003); Ken’s Art Gallery, Florence (2003); International Salon of Contemporary Art, Kirchberg (2004); Galleria Gagliardi, Anima Mundi, S.Gimignano (2004); Galleria inchiostro su carta, Scandicci (2004); Palazzo Comunale, Pontassieve (2004); Chiesa S. Maria alla Spina, Pisa (2004); Galleria Scrimin, Bassano del Grappa (2004); Lineart, Ghent (2004); Galleria Sartoni, Mantua (2005); Centre Culturel Portovecchio (2005); Fornace Pasquinucci, Capraia Fiorentina (2005); Festival della Ceramica, Nove (2005); “Le gioiose ceramiche di Paolo Staccioli”, Palazzo Pitti (2005-2006).

Principal collective shows: Aprilarte, Florence (2000); Mostra d’Arte Sacra contemporanea, Pistoia (2000); “Omaggio a Ernesto Calducci”, Florence (2000); “Otto scultori nel borgo antico”, Chieti (2000); Arte e Paesaggio, Prato (2000); Arte Fiera, Bari (2000); Fiera dell’Arte, Padua (2000).

(Pictures by Francesco Isgro at Italian Embassy in Washington, DC)