Francesco Arena on Working with Apulian Artisans from His Studio in Cassano delle Murge

Francesco Arena (born 1978 in Torre Santa Susanna) lives and works in Cassano delle Murge, a town of about 15,000 inhabitants in the Bari hinterland. His studio, once a stationery shop, is located in the town center. Arena's sculptures are almost always made in local artisan workshops: a marble workshop, a carpenter, and a blacksmith he regularly collaborates with. Bronze castings are done by Battaglia in Milan. His assistant Santiago lives in Bolzano and manages the archive. Arena emphasizes that living in the province has fostered solid relationships with artisans who are not used to working with artists. He frequently attends fairs and exhibition openings, considering them useful for networking. He believes an artist's work requires time, patience, and occasional idleness.