Paolo Polloniato: Ceramics as Territory, Memory, and Reinvention
Paolo Polloniato, born in Nove in 1979 and known as POL, comes from a lineage of artisans in a town celebrated for its ceramic heritage. His primary medium is clay. After completing his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, he returned to Nove in 2008 amid a factory crisis. Inspired by his partner Chiara in Paris, he embraced a conceptual-artistic style in ceramics. His work 'Capricci contemporanei' juxtaposes traditional forms with modern landscapes. Over twelve years, he has crafted sculptures that explore themes of decay and social critique, collaborating with workshops such as Terramica and Stylnove. Following the 2016 earthquake, he developed the series 'Pieni a rendere.' Polloniato was a finalist for the Premio Faenza in 2009 and represented Italy at CERAMICS NOW! in 2018.
Key facts
- Paolo Polloniato (POL) was born in Nove, Italy in 1979.
- His family has been involved in ceramic craftsmanship since the mid-19th century.
- He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia under Gaetano Mainenti.
- He began working with ceramics in 2008, during a major economic crisis.
- His first ceramic series was 'Capricci contemporanei' (2008), replacing romantic views with contemporary landscapes on historic Barettoni forms.
- He works with abandoned molds from Nove's industrial past, treating them as a starting point for renewal.
- The series 'Pieni a rendere' was inspired by the 2016 central Italy earthquake, creating solid ceramic volumes from terracotta textures.
- White is his signature color, chosen for its timelessness and ability to emphasize form and light.
- Key collaborators include Claudio Lancerini (Terramica) and the Zanovello brothers (Stylnove).
- Alessio Tasca was a major influence and mentor; Polloniato was a finalist at the 2009 Premio Faenza and participated in CERAMICS NOW! in 2018.
- The interview is part of a series on artists and ceramics by Irene Biolchini.
Entities
Artists
- Paolo Polloniato
- Gaetano Mainenti
- Claudio Lancerini
- Franco Zanovello
- Lorenzo Zanovello
- Alessio Tasca
- Giuseppe De Fabbris
- Andrea Parini
- Giovanni Petucco
- Pompeo Pianezzola
- Candido Fior
- Federico Bonaldi
- Cesare Sartori
- Giuseppe Lucetti
- Irene Biolchini
Institutions
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia
- Premiata Manifattura Barettoni
- Manifattura Barettoni
- Terramica
- Stylnove
- Ceramiche Zanolli
- Premio Faenza
- CERAMICS NOW!
- Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza
- University of Malta
- Artribune
Locations
- Nove
- Italy
- Venice
- Veneto
- Paris
- Faenza
- Albissola
- central Italy