P a o l o P o r e l l i
curriculum vitae
BIOGRAPHY
Paolo Porelli, Rome Italy (1966). After graduating in painting (Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Italy), Porelli began a period of experimentation in ceramics in which he identified an anthropomorphic figure as his preferred expressive form. Clay remains his principal medium, although he often integrates ‘ready-mades’ in his sculptures as well as casts of found objects. Life-size to small-scale figures stand alone or in installations. In recent work, Porelli uses 3-D images and 3-D printing to create prototypes for series of figures, individualised through modifications, additions and subtractions.
Porelli’s works have been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions including international biennials in the US, Europe and Asia. The subject of feature-length articles in the US and Europe, Porelli has done residencies at The Bray, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, Woodman Artist Residency, European Ceramic Work Centre, Jingdezhen International Studio and more.
Co-founder of CRETA Rome (2012), an international centre for ceramics and fine arts. In 2021, he was elected a member of the International Academy of Ceramics.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 "Figure Out: Catastrophe or Regeneration", Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT, USA
2022 "Madonne Protestanti: terzo atto", Ridotto del Teatro Masini, in conjunction with Argillà Italia 2022, Faenza, Italy
2021 "From Stereotype to Archetype", Arch Contemporary, Tiverton, RI, USA
2021 "RefleX: figure per riflettere", with Maurizio Tittarelli Rubboli, Palazzo Ducale, Gubbio, Italy
2019 "Protestant Madonnas", curated by André Groeneveld, Firma Van Drie, Gouda, The Netherlands
2018 "Divinities + Idols", Heidmann Art Salon at Haw Contemporary, Kansas City, MO, USA
2017 "Humanae Terrae", curated by Claudia Casali, Honos Art, Rome, Italy
2017 "viewing", Jingdezhen International Studio, Jingdezhen, China
2016 "Humankind: the Sublime & the Ridiculous", Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO
2015 "Profili del tempo", curated by Rolando Giovannini, "Rocca Flea" Museo Civico, Gualdo Tadino, Italy
2012 "Creative Trilogy: Sculpture, Painting & Ceramics", c.r.e.t.a. rome, Rome, Italy
2011 "Controfigure", presented by Arte Comune, Palazzo Delfini, Rome, Italy
2008 "Eidolon", curated by Gabriele Simongini, Internoventidue Arte Contemporanea, Rome, Italy
2006 "Idoli Occidente", Galleria Lombardi, La Notte Bianca, Rome, Italy
2004 “Dipinti e Sculture”, curated by Carlo Fabrizio Carli, Galleria Faleria, Rome, Italy
2002 "Paolo Porelli: pitture e sculture", curated by Barbara Mancini, Galleria Mancini, Monte Granaro, Italy
RESIDENCIES/SYMPOSIA/VISITING ARTIST/DEMONSTRATING ARTIST
2024
FIGURES: 2024 International Ceramics Symposium", International Ceramics Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary (August)
2023
Visiting Artist, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, USA (August)
2022
Guest Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA (August)
2021
Woodman Artist Resident, Antella, Italy (August)
2020
Invited guest artist (virtual lecture/demonstration), California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts, Davis, CA, USA (May)
2019/20
Winter Installation Artist in Residence, Arch Contemporary, Tiverton, RI, USA (December 2019-January 2020)
2018/2019
Sunday Morning Grant @ekwc, European Ceramic Work Centre, Oisterwijk, the Netherlands (Dec 2018-March 2019)
2017
Artist in Residence, Blanc de Chine International Ceramic Art Award Residency, Dehua, China (August)
Guest Artist in Residence, International Studio Jingdezhen, China (January/February)
2016
Artist Talk: University of South Carolina, Red Star Studios, Kansas City Art Institute, Arizona State University, Rhode Island School of Design, USA (January-February)
Visiting Artist, University of South Carolina, Colmbia, SC, USA, ‘In-glaze luster workshop (January)
2015/16
Fellowship Artist-in-Residence, Red Star Studios, Belger Crane Yard, Kansas City, MO, USA (Dec. 2015/Feb. 2016)
2014
Invited guest artist (lecture/demonstration), California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts, Davis, CA, USA (April)
Visiting Artist, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA (Feb.-March)
2012
Eric Myhre Scholar, Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, USA (June-August)
2011
Guest Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA (Nov.-Dec.)
Artist in Residence, Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Woodstock, NY, USA (July-August)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS & PRIZES
2025
"TRUE AND REAL", 2025 NCECA Annual, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
"Alive and Unfolding", curated by Vasi Hirdo, Ceramic Art Andenne, La Delta Centre, Andenne, Belgium
2024
FIGURES: 2024 International Ceramics Symposium", International Ceramics Studio, Kecskemét, Hungary
"50 Years in the Making", The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
"Dis/comfort", curated by Alessandro Cristofari, Roberta Cristofari, Eleonora Turli and Giusy Longo, Palazzo Rospiglioso, Zagarolo, Italy.
2023/24
"3rd Blanc de Chine International Ceramic Art Award", Hangzhou, China
2023
Lighton International Artist Exchange Program Award
"Ho visto la Madonna!", curated by Donatella Ventura e Daniele Panucci, Museo della Ceramica di Savona, Savona, Italy
"In bianco. La porcellana nella ceramica d’arte italiana contemporanea", curated by Matteo Zauli and Xiuzhong Zhang, Palazzo del Podestà, Faenza, Italy
"Intersezioni - Zero: la ceramica incontra le collezioni museali", curated by Domenico Iaracà, Museo Diocesano, Gubbio, Italy
"Fragile", curated by Domenico Iaracà and Mara De Fanti, Museo della Ceramica Gianetti, Saronno, Italy
2022/23
"Natività …sia la luce", curated by Andrea Baffoni, Il Granaio - Museo Regionale della Ceramica - Ex Fornace Grazia, Deruta, Italy
2022
"Ethos: Keramikos 2022", curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, Museo di Palazzo Doebbing, Sutri, Italy
"40° Mostra Internazionale della Ceramica d'Arte "Il Pianeta Terra" Triennale della Ceramica d'Arte Contemporanea di Gualdo Tadino 2022", curated by Rolando Giovannini, Nello Teodori, Gualdo Tadino, Italy
"Tradizione Contemporanea. Triennale della Ceramica d'Arte Contemporanea di Gualdo Tadino 2022", curated by Nello Teodori, Palazzo Giorgi, Poppi, Italy
"Artists for Amnesty" John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA, USA
2021/22
"KICB (Korean International Ceramic Biennale) 2021", Honorable Mention, Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
2021
"Visioni contemporanee. Venti artisti a Castel Sant'Angelo", curated by Mariastella Margozzi, Museo nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy
"Tradizione Contemporanea. Triennale della Ceramica d'Arte Contemporanea di Gualdo Tadino 2022", curated by Nello Teodori, Museo Opificio Rubboli, Gualdo Tadino
2020/21
"61° Premio Faenza (with Maurizio Tittarelli Rubboli), Museo Internazionale della Ceramica, Faenza, Italy
2020
"2020 Taiwan Ceramics Biennial", New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum: shortlisted
"BACC 2020: Biennale Arte Ceramica Contemporanea", Scuderie Aldobrandini per l'Arte, Frascati, Italy
"Duetto Duello: improvazioni d'argilla a 4 mani", with Fiorenza Pancino, in conjunction with "Made In Italy", Pancino workshop, Faenza, Italy
"Distant Ceramics, 2nd ed.", juror Shoji Satake, on-line
2019/20
"Cheongju International Craft Competition 2019", Cheongju, Korea: shortlisted
"Ceramics of Europe Westerwaldprize 2019", Keramikmuseum Westerwald, Westerwald, Germany
"XIV Bienal Internacional de Ceràmica de Manises", Museu Ceràmica Manises, Manises, Spain
"D'APRÉS - Riprese e citazioni nella ceramica contemporanea", curated by Marinella Caputo e Domenico Iaracà, Museo Opificio Rubboli, Gualdo Tadino, Italy
2019
"Point in Time II Jubilee Reunion Manifestation EKWC", Heusden, The Netherlands
"Flesh for Fantasy", Concurrent Exhibition NCECA 2019, The Workshop Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2018/19
"Inquietant/e figura humana (Disturbing human figure)", Sala 30, curated by MACVAC (Museu d'Art Contemporani Vicent Aguilera Cerní de Vilafamés), Aéroport Castellòn, Spain
2018
"38 Concurso Internacional de Ceràmica-CICA 2018", 2nd prize, L’Alcora, Spain
"Ceramic Art Andenne 2018", "Contemporary expressions of Italy", curated by M. Pachon Rodriguez, (Italy, invited country), Andenne, Belgium
"European Ceramic Context 2018, Open Call exhibition", 1 of 2 artists chosen to represent Italy, Grønbechs Gaard, Bornholm, Denmark
"2nd Porzellanbiennial Meissen", Albrechtsburg, Meissen, Germany
"Abscondita Veritas", curated by Juan Carlos Garcia Alia, presented by Honos Art Contemporary, in conjunction with Argillà, Faenza, Italy
"CeramicAppignano" Convivium, in collaboration with Jeff Schmuki, IV Edizione Concorso Nazionale, Appignagno, Italy
"Ceramics in Love", 58 Mostra della Ceramica Castellamonte, Italy
"Deconstructing the Conversation", Morgan Glass Gallery in conjunction with NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
"BACC Collection", Roma d’Arte Expo & RO.ME, Rome, Italy
"Tra-vasi ovvero Vasi Comunicanti, contenitore e contenuto nella ceramica contemporanea", curated by C. Pizzichini, X edizione del Festa all’Abbadia Nuova, Siena, Italy
"Scultura OpeRosa Materia", curated by Oriana Impei, Aranciera di San Sisto, Rome, Italy
"Materia in Aria", Tenuta Fendi, Rome, Italy
2017
"L’acqua meraviglia della terra", Silver Award, XXXIX Concorso Internazionale della Ceramica d’Arte, Gualdo Tadino, Italy
"Codice Vulci”, curated by Gianna Besson, Vulci, Italy
2016
"1st Porzellanbiennial", Albrechtsburg, Meissen, Germany
"Espresso and Cappuccino Cups", 1 edition, curated by Sandra Baruzzi & Rolando Giovannini, Cantiere delle Arti, Castellamonte, Italy
2015
"La ciotola come metafora: rassegna di ceramica contemporanea", curated by Carlo Pizzichini, Nobile Contrada del Nicchio, Arte dei Vasai, Siena, Italy
"Convivium", Honorable Mention, Primo concorso nazionale CeramicAppignano, Appignano, Italy
"Scultura ceramica contemporanea in Italia", curated by N. Caruso and M. Margozzi, Galleria nazionale d’arte moderna, Rome, Italy
"2015 NCECA Biennial", David Winton Bell Gallery, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
2014
"Made at The Clay Studio: Guest Artists in Residence 2010-14", curated by G. Johnson, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
"Ceramica in Fiore Natura Arte Tendenza", Tolfa Polo Culturale, Tolfa, Italy
2013
"New Directions", Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA, USA
"S.O.F.A. Chicago", presented by Lacoste Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA
"2013 NCECA Biennial", Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston. TX, USA
"Archie Bray Foundation 2012 Resident & Visiting Artists Exhibition", 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX, USA
2012
"Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection 2012", Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT, USA
"Bray North Gallery “Resident Artist Exhibition 2012”, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT, USA
"Archie Bray at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery", Spokane, WA, USA
"XLV Premio Vasto – Percorsi di figurazione oggi", curated by Carlo Fabrizio Carli, Scuderie di Palazzo Aragona, Vasto (CH), Italy
"INCHANGE CHANGEIN", Artecomune Galleria, Nepi, Italy
"Eduardo Palumbo e Gli Amici", Lavatoio Contumaciale, Rome, Italy
2011
"Juried Exhibition", Brenda Taylor Gallery, New York, NY, USA
"Figuration", curated by Jeff Guido, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2010
"SEEDS: “The Eco Art Show”", EcoArt Project, Aranciera di San Sisto, Rome, Italy
"Un mosaico per Tornareccio", 5 ed., curated by Laura Gavioli, Tornareccio, Italy
2009
"In cartis. Una carta conquistata", Casetta Della Musica, Latina, Italy
"XXXVI Premio Sulmona: rassegna internazionale d’arte contemporanea", Polo Museale Civico Diocesano, Sulmona, Italy
"Conversazioni, giovani artisti a confronto", Galleria San Marco, Viterbo, Italy
"Segnixlibri. Rettangoli d’amore", Palazzo del Comune, Civitanova Marche, Italy
"Sotto l’albero: 100 artisti x 100 sfere", Teatro Brancaccio, Rome, Italy
"Contemporary Ecoart Contest", Ecoart project, Rome, Italy
"Alberto Casiraghy. Gli Amici e Roma", Lavatoio Contumaciale, Rome, Italy
"1000 artisti in Palazzo", World Museum, Palazzo Arese Jacini, Cesano Maderno, Italy
"ArtVerona "Fiera d’arte moderna e contemporanea"". Presented by Galleria l’Affiche, Milan, Italy
2008
"In-Giusto prezzo". Palazzo Chigi sala Orsini. Formello, Italy
"Bracciano in Arte: collettive d’arte contemporanea", Bracciano, Italy
"Quadrato d’arte: ricordando U. Boccioni", Galleria LIBRA Arte Contemporanea, Catania, Italy
2007
“Teche” Libera esposizione delle arti. Associazione Ex lavanderia – S.M. della Pietà
“Keramikos” Associazione ArtiDec, Bracciano (RM)
2006
“Acquisti e doni nei Musei Comunali 1997-2005”, Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy
“Arte Per” Metro Piazzale Flaminio, Rome
“World Museum: 1000 artisti a palazzo”, Palazzo Arese Jacini. Cesano Maderno (MI), Italy
2005
“Esposizione d’arte contemporanea, Museo della Transtoria” Palazzo Orsini, Bomarzo (VT), Italy
“Interferenze” 50a Mostra Nazionale d’Arte Contemporanea", Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Termoli, Italy
“Arte Per” Metro Piazza Vittorio, Rome, Italy
Segnixlibri” Lavatoiocomptumaciale, Rome, Italy
2004
“Nel Segno della Pittura: Seidici giovani pittori d’immagine”, 49a Mostra Nazionale d’Arte Contemporanea, Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Termoli (CB), Italy
‘Arte Metro Roma: Il Museo Underground di Roma. I grandi mosaici delle stazioni della Metropolitana, catalog presentation, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy
2003
“L’arcobaleno degli Angeli”, Centro Culturale Il Campo, Campomarino (CB), Italy
“Collettiva di Primavera”, Galleria Arè Arte, Rome, Italy
“Nuovi nell’arte, nell’arte i nuovi”, Rome University of Fine Arts, Rome, Italy
“Il Muro” l’arte per una convivenza pacifica, L’Ambasciata di Colombia, Rome, Italy
“In 11 a Formello”, Palazzo Chigi, Sala Orsini, Formello (RM), Italy
“500 Artisti nell’Arcobaleno degli Angeli”, Mail Art Internazionale, San Giuliano di Puglia (CB), Italy
“Percorsi della grafica”, Centro per l’incisione e la grafica d’arte, Formello (RM), Italy
“Pluralità”, curated by Carlo Fabrizio Carli, Galleria Il Narvalo, Velletri (RM), Italy
“Graffio d’Artista” Sala Tersicore, Velletri (RM), Italy
“confini barriere o panna montata?”,“Annessi” del Castello di San Giorgio, Maccarese (RM), Italy
“2° Edizione Premio Nazionale Arte Contemporanea “Ferruccio Ferrazzi””, Sabaudia (LT), Italy
“Nel segno della solidarietà, Progetto Ado Fabriano II edizione”, Fabriano (AN), Italy
2002
“8 Marzo” Galleria Mancini, Monte Granaro (AP), Italy
“IV Edizione Lettomanopello in pietra: sette giorni con la pietra nel parco della Maiella” (PE), Italy
2001
“1° Edizione Premio Nazionale Arte Contemporanea, “Ferruccio Ferrazzi””, Sabaudia (LT), Italy
2000
“pittori – scultori – ceramisti”, Temple Gallery, Temple University, Rome, Italy
Partecipazione raccolta mattonelle d’arte per “Artisti per l’Epicentro”, Museo di Gala di Barcellona (ME), Italy
1997
“Espressioni di cura”, Galleria Liart, Rome, Italy
“Triennale Internazionale d’Arte Sacra di Celeno, XIV edizione”, Castello di Celano (AQ), Italy
1994
“Forme pensiero”, l’Accademia di Romania in Roma, Rome, Italy
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Arizona State University Art Museum Ceramics Research Center, Tempe, AZ, USA
Blanc de Chine ICAA, Yishu-8 Gallery, Beijing, China
CeramicAppignano, Appignano, Italy
Galleria Civica d’Arte Contemporanea, Termoli, Italy
Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy
Museo di Gala di Barcellona, Italy
Museo Civico di Rocca Flea, Gualdo Tadino, Italy
Museo della Transtoria, Palazzo Orsini, Bomarzo, Italy
Museu de Ceràmica de L’Alcora, Spain
Nobile Contrada del Nicchio, Arte dei Vasai, Siena, Italy
Taoxichuan Art Gallery, Jingdezhen, China
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, USA
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT, USA
World Museum, Palazzo Arese Jacini, Cesano Maderno, Italy
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Paolo Porelli. Figure Out. Catastrophe or Regeneration (exhibition catalogue, Holter Museum of Art) (Helena, MT, USA 2023)
Garth Johnson, “Porelli’s Proscenium”, in Paolo Porelli. Figure Out. Catastrophe or Regeneration (exhibition catalogue, Holter Museum of Art) (Helena, MT, USA 2023) 16-26
Francesco Paolo del Re, “Paolo Porelli: an anthropography of the end of the world and its opposite” in Paolo Porelli. Figure Out. Catastrophe or Regeneration (exhibition catalogue, Holter Museum of Art) (Helena, MT, USA 2023) 31-36
Blanc de Chine International Ceramic Art Award 2023 (exhibition catalogue, Beijing, China 2023)
Donatella Ventura, Daniele Panucci, eds., Ho visto la Madonna!, Museo della Ceramica di Savona (exhibition catalogue, 2023) 80-85
Francesco Paolo del Re, “Paolo Porelli: una antropografía del fin del mundo y su opuesto”, Terrart: Revista de ceràmica contemporània 62 (May 2023)
Daniela Lotta, "Madonne Protestanti, Terzo Atto (Protestant Madonnas. Third Act (by Paolo Porelli)", Ceramics Ireland 46 (December 2022) 19
Daniela Lotta, "Madonne Protestanti, Terzo Atto (Protestant Madonnas. Third Act)" (exhibition text)
Nello Teodori, curator, Trienniale della Ceramica d’Arte Contemporanea di Gualdo Tadino (exhibition catalogue, Museo Opificio Rubboli) (Gualdo Tadino, 2022)
Èthos: Keramikos 2022, Palazzo Doebbing, Sutri (exhibition catalogue, Sutri 2022)
Claudia Casali, ed., Premio Faenza, Biennale Internazionale della Ceramica d’Arte Contemporanea – edizione speciale (exhibition book, Faenza 2021)
Hanbyul Kim, Minhye Park (curators), Korean International Ceramic Biennale 2021 International Competition (exhibition catalogue, Korea Ceramic Foundation) (Korea, 2021)
"Paolo Porelli: Del estereotipo al arquetipo", Boletín Infocerámica, 14 agosto 2020
Sandro Conte, curator, BACC (Biennale Arte Ceramica Contemporanea) (exhibition catalogue, Scuderie Aldobrandini X L'Arte) (Rome, 2020) pp.30-31
Konrad Wolf, Achim Schwickert, et al, eds., 14.Westerwaldpries 2019 Keramik Europas (Germany, 2019) pp.72-75
XIV BICM – 19 Biennal Internacional de Ceràmica Manises (Manises, 2019) p.65
Marinella Caputo, Domenico Iaracà, curators, D’Après: riprese e citazioni nella ceramica contemporanea (exhibition catalogue, Museo Opificio Rubboli) (Gualdo Tadino, 2019) p.
Peregrine Honig, "Divinities + Idols", HAS at Haw Contemporary 2018
“Inquietant/e figura humana (Disturbing human figure)”, Sala 30, curated by MACVAC (Museu d’arte Contemporanae Vicent Aguilera Cerní de Vilafamés), Aeroport Castellón, Spain
“Idolatry + Mythos in Sophie Aguilera + Paolo Porelli’s ‘Humanae Terrae’”, CFile,25 August 2017
Claudia Casali, ‘Icone moderne’, in Humanae Terrae (exhibition catalogue, Rome 2017)
Blanc de Chine International Ceramic Art Award 2017 (exhibition catalogue, Beijing, China 2017)
Paolo Porelli: Humankind: the sublime & the ridiculous (exhibition catalogue, Belger Arts Center, Kansas City 2016)
Alice Thorson, “Paolo Porelli: Humankind: The Sublime and The Ridiculous”, Belger Arts Center, KC Studio November 11, 2016.
"Exposure", Ceramics Monthly (Nov. 2016) 13
Glen R. Brown, ‘2015 NCECA Biennial’, Ceramics Monthly (Dec. 2015), 58-62
R. Giovannini, curator, ‘Profiles of time: Paolo Porelli and the conceptual form’ in Profili del Tempo (exhibition catalogue, Rocca Flea, Museo Civico,
Gualdo Tadino) (Rome 2015)
N. Caruso and M. Margozzi, curators, La scultura ceramica contemporanea in Italia (Rome 2015)
Garth Johnson, curator, ‘Made at The Clay Studio: Guest Artists in Residence 2011-2014’
C. Copeland, Review "Figuration at the Clay Studio", Ceramics: Art & Perception 87 (2012) 63-65
Gabrielle Simongini, ‘The New Paganism of the Ultra-pop Idols’, Ceramics Ireland 27 (2011) 28-29
Lori-Ann Touchette, ‘Ultrapop Idols of Paolo Porelli’, Ceramics: Art & Perception 77 (2009) 12-15
Manuela De Leonardis, ‘Eidolon di Paolo Porelli, Roma, InternoVentidue’, Exibart (2008)