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Renzo Faggioli, (b.1940) Master Ceramic Artist

Master craftsman, Faggioli has been a fixture of the Lehigh Pennsylvania area since his arrival from Italy. He has instructed ceramics just down the street from the Allentown Art Museum at the Baum School of Art, at the Moravian College as the Ceramist-in Residence in Bethlehem, and served as a guest instructor at the Penn Lehigh Campus.  There is an endless list of students and protégés that sing his praises. 

Faggioli started his own higher education at the Scuola State Ceramica della Robbia in Florence, Italy, and he then did his advanced studies at Alfred University and Carnegie-Mellon University. For those of you who know ceramics, there is nothing finer that studying at Alfred.

Faggioli’s work has been shown at many major exhibitions throughout the Eastern U.S. and Europe. His work has been featured in solo shows at Allentown Art Museum, Baum School of Art, Holland Art House Gallery in West Chester, and the former Hoopla Gallery in Bethlehem. In April, 2004, he received the Allentown Arts Ovation Award for the Visual Arts. Additionally, he represented the U.S. in the Eighth Biennale International de Ceramique d’Art Vallauris in France.


Sometimes his work is sculptural, sometimes figurative, sometimes vessels, sometimes functional, always remarkable, as in the grand platters above.  They are a cross between art and function. Hanging on the wall, these stoneware-fired, earth-tone luster-glazed platters, with hand textured edges accentuated with sun rings and a rugged landscape. It is estimated that these sculptural platters were created in the 1980's.

A 2006 issue of Ceramics Monthly quoted Faggioli:  In my work I try to transcend the purely utilitarian and demonstrate characteristics of sculptural and tactile elegance.” He goes on: "My influences range from Etruscan terracotta works from my native Tuscany, the works of Donatello, Della Robbia and other Renaissance masters, to modern masters such as Marino Marini.  

As Faggioli celebrated his milestone 80th birthday in 2020, his work shares a renewed interest with a broader audience for his skills, abilities, and talent that makes him one of the finest master craftsmen in America.  Now serving as a master craftsman for over 50 years.   
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©2021.  Waller-Yoblonsky Fine Art is a research collaborative, working to track artists that got lost and overlooked due to time, changing styles, race, gender and/or sexual orientation. Our frequent blogs highlight artists and art movements that need renewed attention with improved information for the researcher and art collectors.  The blog was created by Mr. Waller and all written materials were obtained by the Fair Use Section 107, of The Copyright Act.  #waller-yoblonskyblogspot #walleryoblonskyblogspot #renzofaggioli #ceramicart #renzofaggioli




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