Rosanna Bianchi Piccoli, Italian ceramic pioneer, dies at 95

Rosanna Bianchi Piccoli, a pioneering figure in artistic ceramics, died in Milan on February 14, 2025, at age 95. Born in Milan in 1929, she studied at the Liceo Artistico under Guido Ballo and later at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera with Carlo Carrà and Mauro Reggiani. Between 1951 and 1963, she traveled extensively across Europe—including Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium—visiting workshops, ceramic factories, and artist studios to deepen her knowledge of Italian ceramic traditions. From 1957 to 1963, she conducted socio-ethno-anthropological research in Abruzzo, Marche, and Sicily, participating in experimental group projects. Her works were featured in international exhibitions such as the Concorso Internazionale delle Ceramiche di Faenza, the Triennale di Milano, the Esposizione Internazionale della Ceramica di Praga, and the XXXVI Venice Biennale in 1972. Her daughter Cloe, an art critic and curator, announced her death on Instagram with a photo by Nini Mulas. The Triennale di Milano, where her works are currently on display, paid tribute, stating they will continue to exhibit her pieces to promote her artistic legacy.