Paolo Porelli

Paolo Porelli (b. 1966) is an artist based in Rome, Italy, and a co-founder of CRETA Rome, an international centre for ceramics and fine arts. He graduated in painting from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma and later began an extended period of experimentation with ceramics, identifying the anthropomorphic figure as his primary expressive form.

Clay remains his principal medium, though he frequently incorporates ready-mades and casts of found objects into his sculptures. His figures range from life-size to small scale and appear either as individual works or in installations. In recent projects, Porelli has used 3D imaging and 3D printing to develop prototypes for series of figures, which are then individualised through additions, subtractions, and alterations.

His work often addresses contemporary social tensions, combining surreal elements, found materials, and references to archaic symbolism. Porelli’s sculptures have been shown in nearly 20 solo exhibitions and over 90 group exhibitions, including international biennials across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has participated in residencies at institutions including The Bray, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, the European Ceramic Work Centre, and Jingdezhen International Studio.

Porelli is currently preparing museum solo exhibitions in the United States, Germany, and Italy for 2026–27. In 2027, his itinerant solo exhibition Figure Out: Catastrophe or Regeneration will be presented at the Fuller Craft Museum for six months. He was elected a member of the International Academy of Ceramics in 2021.

Visit Paolo Porelli’s website and Instagram page.