Andrea Sala on Ceramics, Craft, and the Journey from Italy to Canada and Back

Andrea Sala (born 1976 in Como, Italy) discusses his engagement with ceramics, a material he first encountered at Montelupo through an invitation from Matteo Zauli. Sala was already working on sculpture models derived from stove imagery when the invitation arrived, making ceramics a natural fit to explore heat, resistance, and simplicity. He emphasizes that he does not become attached to any single technique but selects materials as necessary elements for each work. His approach to ceramics focuses on the material's reaction to heat and its primordial simplicity. Sala highlights the importance of collaboration with artisans, a practice shaped by his Brianza origins and his studies under Ugo La Pietra, who instilled a respect for craft and genius loci. His time in Canada forced him to adapt due to the lack of an artisan network, leading to his exhibition "Nuovo Mondo" (New World) in Canada. Returning to Italy, he brought a new awareness. His recent Milan exhibition "Pulisci i piedi e lavati le mani" at Galleria Schiavo Zoppelli explored domestic space, gestures, and the relationships between objects and habits. Two main sculptures were left in raw terracotta to emphasize their primitive process. The interview was conducted by Irene Biolchini, who teaches Contemporary Art at the University of Malta and is a Guest Curator at the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza.