LORENZO CECILIONI

His artistic debut quickly captured the attention of the design world thanks to his refined material choices and impeccable sense of composition.

From the outset, Cecilioni was drawn to a plastic-emotional form of expression—fascinated by the malleability and adaptability of matter. With mastery, patience, and a relentless hunger for discovery, he set out to uncover the hidden potential of materials. Today, he creates installations, assemblages, and sculptural paintings defined by a distinctive, contemporary sensibility.

His artistic path was shaped early on by his uncle, Franco Bucci—an influential figure in the international ceramics scene—who encouraged an unconventional approach to objects, one rooted in the pursuit of pure form, refined palettes, and the expressive power of texture.

For Cecilioni, uniqueness is essential. He resists repetition and banality through constant experimentation. His process echoes the alchemical principle of solve et coagula—to dissolve and recompose. In his studio, which resembles a mystical laboratory, raw and humble materials are chosen with care, then altered and transformed in a continuous metamorphosis. Nothing is repeatable. Gesture and matter take center stage in a dynamic, often playful process where elements are cut, twisted, corroded, rusted, or smoothed with both boldness and precision.

Through this process, the material reveals itself—gaining or shedding weight, expanding or contracting, shaping not only physical space but also the temporal dimension between action and revelation. Cecilioni’s work is as much about waiting as it is about making. The creative act becomes almost chemical, driven by reactions such as the combustion of wood or the oxidation of iron through salt.

Salt, a fundamental element of life, plays a recurring role in his compositions. Spread in broad strokes as a foundational layer, it evokes distant, shifting landscapes—from the copper deserts of Namibia to the white expanses of the Arctic. On this crystalline base, other materials—charred wood, lead, iron, marble, and terracotta—are purposefully arranged, forming intricate, almost lace-like textures.

Guided by instinct and inspiration, the work emerges slowly and deliberately—never by chance. Each piece becomes a dynamic, tangible experience. In his hands, matter is transformed into painterly harmony, revealing itself with resonance and quiet intensity.

Cecilioni's work has been met with critical acclaim and is regularly exhibited in public and private galleries across Italy, including Padua, Bologna, Florence, Parma, Turin, Forlì, Pesaro, the Republic of San Marino, Rimini, and Genoa.

October–November 2023 — Galleria Zamagni
"Materiae. Per ragione della materia."