Bertozzi & Casoni Museum Opens in Sassuolo

On December 16, the Museo Bertozzi & Casoni opened in Sassuolo, Italy, showcasing the ceramic works of artists Giampaolo Bertozzi (born 1957 in Borgo Tossignano, Bologna) and Stefano Dal Monte Casoni (born 1961 in Lugo di Romagna, Ravenna). The museum is housed in the 17th-century Cavallerizza Ducale, a former Este estate building, which was restored by engineer Franco Stefani, president of the System Group, in collaboration with Studio Pincelli. Stefani, who initiated the project in 2016, aimed to give the city a historic cultural venue. The permanent collection includes iconic works such as "Scegli il Paradiso" (1997), depicting a Madonna cutting flowers while the Christ child plays with a frog, marking the artists' shift toward rigorous realism. The museum offers free admission and presents sculptures that blend grotesque details with precious finishes, often featuring animals like parrots, monkeys, bears, and gorillas. The artists view the museum as a means to show the evolution of their work and to recover pieces from the art market. Stefani praised the duo for bringing ceramics into contemporary art using masterful techniques and innovative technology. The location in the Italian province is intentional, with the artists likening an artist's path to a river and the province to its fertile bends, where the most noble material accumulates.