Le Dame Art Gallery is delighted to announce “FORM Italia” Exhibition, a vibrant and eclectic collection of Italian contemporary sculptures.

The exhibition features an exquisite selection of pieces by the gallery's staple artists Silvia Scaringella, Paolo Cenedese Murano Glass, Maurizio D'Onorio, Marco Donnarumma, Geraldo Lafratta, Studio Forme, Lodovica Marinelli, Ceramica Mileto, Dino Maccini, Franco Nonnis and Roberto Sgrosso, displaying the breadth of their talent.

Silvia Scaringella

Silvia Scaringella was born in Rome in 1986 to a family of Artisans specializing in wood. With thanks to her father and the family trade Silvia soon learnt the art of restoration, and in 2010 she graduated from the Accademia delle Belle Arti, Rome. While religiously attending the Academy workshops, she met and teamed up with Domenico Annichiarico, professor of sculpture at the academy. Domenico helped her to improve her skills and taught her how to work with and create form with the sculpting materials polyester and chalk. Together they worked on both important and international assignments. Silvia went on to collaborate in paint with the Italian artist Renato Mambor. Silvia’s creative talents have even led her to working in scenography, designing themes to be hosted in various establishments. She has also worked in the set designing field collaborating with prestigious clients such as Warner Bros. In 2011 Silvia moved to Carrara, ‘The City of Marble’ where she attended The Professional Institute of Marble to update her skills. When Silvia completed her studies she moved to Japan where she still resides. Silvia is currently studying the Waragai Sensai granite techniques.

Paolo Cenedese

Born in Murano in 1952, Paolo’s passion for glass has spanned over 40 years. Paolo spent his younger years working for various major companies such as Barovier & Toso and Seguso before finally settling in 1978 and acquiring his first lampworking studio. This is where he started to develop his much-loved style. Over the years Paolo’s undeniable style and expertise have led him to collaborate with some of the largest Murano brands such as Venini, Salviati and Berengo. His collaborations didn’t stop there with projects ranging globally with bespoke jewellery designs and projects with international artists such as Ted Muehling, Frank Borst and Anneé Olofsson, to name but a few.

Maurizio D'Onorio

Maurizio took his first steps into the world of Art in 1979, after graduating from high school, with a diploma in mechanics. He then took up an apprenticeship in Iron working. This rough and strenuous form of Art captured Maurizio at once, allowing him to let his imagination and creativity run free. Maurizio now has his own workshop which is based in Frosinone, Italy. This is where he breathes life into his creative thoughts, collaborating with his brother Paulo D’Onorio.

Marco Donnarumma

Marco was born in Naples in 1967. After completing his law studies, he decided to follow his true passion and devote his life to art. Marco educated himself with the aid of workshops studying for long periods in the art and techniques of the old masters. Marco spent much of his free time travelling and gathering inspiration globally from different traditions. The experiences he had whilst travelling gave new life to his creations. One such experience happened in the three years he lived in Japan. Here he met Sensai Hideo Torazawa, who shared with him the secret art and technique of the Japanese ceramic traditions.

Geraldo Lafratta

Geraldo is a sculptor and numerologist, born on 5th August 1963 in Verbania, Italy. Geraldo’s work is heavily influenced by his youth, which he spent much of working in his father’s firm as an assistant welder. Geraldo’s naturalness and manual skill in the iron process underline his inclination in metal manufacturing. His intrigue of this process has become an almost expressive vehicle in the realization of his works of art. A turning point in his career was meeting the Master Lionello Trabuio who motivated Geraldo into developing a strong synergy between both manual skill and Pythagorean thinking.

Studio Forme

Studio Forme is based in Trastevere, Rome and was founded in 1973 by Giorgio Funaro and Rita Rivelli, who are still the current directors. The Studio works in the application of artistic techniques to production, preservation and restoration. Cultural Education, the knowledge of traditional technique and the continuous practice of experiment are the basis of the studio’s ethic.

Ceramica Mileto

Ceramica Mileto is a prestigious artisan workshop based in Rome. With workshops run by sisters, Anna Aloisa and Francesca Mileto. The Mileto workshop was opened in 1981 by Agatina Librando Mileto. Agatina began her artistic career in Denmark during the second world war. It was at the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Factory that she learnt and mastered the ‘third firing technique’. (This same technique was applied, to create the famous and beautiful ‘Flora Danica’). Her passion for ceramics grew and Denmark gave her the perfect opportunity to hone her talents, learning the exceptional detail and precision necessary to create such pieces of work.

Dino Maccini

Dino is a contemporary Italian artist, predominantly practising in Mosaic works. Dino was born in Piacenza in the North of Italy, where he still resides. Dino’s inspiration comes from the classical mosaics, which adorn many buildings throughout his native Italy. His passion for the ancient style led him to Ravenna where he learnt and mastered the traditional techniques at the International school of Mosaic. His works often include small fragments of wood and metal to accompany the classic marble, glass and enamel with his style ranging from the Roman and Byzantine to the contemporary and decorative. His applied traditional technique means that each of his pieces are unique, with each segment cut and joined by hand. Dino has featured in many exhibitions and has work in several private collections, public areas and places of worship.

Franco Nonnis

Franco 53, lives and works in Cagliari, Italy. Franco is a self-taught painter. His passion started when he was a small child where he could often be found seeking inspiration in his Grandfathers workshop. Franco is incredibly well travelled and the different cultures he experienced are evident within his works. Franco’s artistic works cover the spectrum of human lives, engaging his audience with his authentic expressions of delights, sufferings and the emotions that surround us all.

Roberto Sgrosso

Roberto’s unique and often eccentric works delve into three classes, Natural, Artificial and Miracle. His quirky imagining’s can usually be described as that of the third class. Roberto works with a vast amount of ‘impoverished’ scrap and recycled materials. With work often comprising of fragile, delicate objects such as eggshell, aluminium foil and glass shards. The fragility of his work and the imaginative combining of unusual materials create unique pieces that have an undeniably precious quality.