Officine Saffi Award 4: Finalists Exhibition, Milan, 2021
Officine Saffi Award 4 
Officine Saffi Award 4 
Officine Saffi Award 4 
Officine Saffi Award 4 
Officine Saffi Award 4 
Officine Saffi Award 4
The Finalists Exhibition of the Officine Saffi Award 4 is now on view in Milan
September 7 – November 6, 2021
The Officine Saffi Award, now in its fourth edition, is a biennial prize that promotes ceramics in contemporary culture. The works of the 45 finalist artists from over 16 countries are on show in Milan from 7th September to 6th November 2021.
The international jury, composed of Alessandro Rabottini, independent curator, artistic director of In Between Art Film; Livia Peraldo Matton, director responsible for Elle Decor; Christian Larsen, curator of MAD Museum; Alvise Braga Illa, collector; Julian Stair, artist; Carolina Orsini, curator at MUDEC; Lisbet Friis, designer, member of the Danish Arts Foundation; Laura Borghi, founder of Officine Saffi, after a long day of in-depth analysis, has chosen two artists who explore markedly different approaches.
The €10,000 First Prize goes to Pus and Scabs by Virginia Leonard for her psychologically layered and exuberant expressionism.
The jury also awards a purchase award to Maria Kristofersson for her quiet rigor and poetic exploration of space.
In addition to the first prize, eight residency awards have been awarded by some of the most prestigious international centres dedicated to ceramics: Sundaymorning@ekwc, who has chosen the Chinese artist Wan Liya. The Danish Ceramic Research Center Guldagergaard has selected Marianne Huotari. The Spanish artist Icaro Maiterena won the Bruckner Foundation award. The Mondovì Ceramics Museum will host Phoebe Cummings for a residency and a personal exhibition in the rooms of the museum.
The Este Ceramiche Manufactory have invited Audrey Ballacchino to experiment within its mold archive. Tellurico has won a residency in Japan, in occasion of the Sasama International Ceramic Art Festival. Päivi Rintaniemi, together with the City of Seinäjoki, will host the Norwegian artist Eyvind Solli Andreassen. Finally, Officine Saffi will host Chiara Camoni for a project to be developed together.
Established for the first time, the Purchase Award dedicated to young artists promoted by Four Arts was awarded to Francesco Ardini for his work Veduta.
For the special section, FOCUS: DENMARK, the special prize that includes the creation of a solo exhibition in 2022 accompanied by a catalogue was awarded to Turi Pedersen.
Virginia Leonard, Pus and Scabs, clay, lustre, resin, 74x50x58 cm 
Maria Kristofersson, Proximity-Distance, earthenware clay, 45 x 35 x 18 cm 
Turi Heisselberg Pedersen, Sculptural Shape, 2019, stoneware with slip glaze, 33 × 26 cm 
Eyvind Solli Andreassen, Lene 2019, grès, 38 × 40 × 40 cm 
Ícaro Maiterena, Solenoidal Movements, 2020, grès, 37x40x32 cm, 60x41x44 cm 
Liya Wan, New Longshan Series, 2020, from left: 14x14x19cm, 15x15x16cm, 16x16x33cm, 24x24x5cm, 14x14x24cm 
Audrey Ballacchino, Table, 2020, ceramic objects: porcelain, enamel scenography: tables, tablecloths, food, 93 × 100 × 168 cm 
Chiara Camoni, Vases Butterflies (three-way dialogue), 2020, stoneware glazed with flowers ashes, soil and sand 
Francesco Ardini, Veduta, 2020, stoneware panel with polychrome inkject photoceramic treatment, wooden panel with metal, 120 x 100 x 2,5 cm 
Marianne Huotari, Wild as Lupine, 2020, ceramics, metal, 33 × 34 × 30 cm 
Phoebe Cummings, Antediluvian Swag, New Art Centre, 2016, clay, wire, steel, 180 × 10 × 40 cm 
Tellurico, Stracciatella Big bowl, Telluride, 2020, volcanic porcelain, 25 × 55 × 45 cm
The works of the 45 finalist artists from over 16 countries take centre stage in a large exhibition that welcomes the most interesting research on ceramics and will be hosted at two venues for the occasion: the Officine Saffi gallery and a new exhibition space in Piazza Virgilio.
The exhibition is accompanied by an installation designed by Riccardo Rossi.
Finalists:
Gunilla Maria Åkesson (Sweden), Anton Alvarez (Sweden), Eyvind Solli Andreassen (Norway), Salvatore Arancio (Italy), Francesco Ardini (Italy), Audrey Ballacchino (France), Chiara Camoni (Italy), David Casini (Italy), Rino Claessens (Netherlands), Phoebe Cummings (United Kingdom), Formabesta (Spain), Jennifer Forsberg (Sweden), Elly Glossop (Scotland), Annelie Grimwade Olofsson (Sweden), Michele Guido (Italy), Jessica Harrison (United Kingdom), Marianne Huotari (Finland), Julia Huteau (France), Qwist Joseph (USA), Jonathan Keep (United Kingdom), Maria Kristofersson (Sweden), Jeongwon Lee (South Korea), Icaro Maiterena (Spain), Virginia Leonard (New Zealand), Claire Lindner (France), Carlo Lorenzetti (USA), Ian McDonald (USA), Domenico Mangano & Marieke Van Rooy (Italy-Netherlands), Caterina Morigi (Italy), Monika Patuszyńska (Poland), Gregorio Peño Velasco (Spain), Héloïse Piraud (France), Andrea Sala (Italy), Catherine Sanke (Germany), Francesco Simeti (Italy), John Souter (USA), Akiko Taniguchi (Japan), Tellurico (Italy), Iren Tete (USA), Liya Wan (China)
Contact
+39 02 36685696
info@officinesaffi.com
Officine Saffi
Via Aurelio Saffi 7, Milan
Piazza Virgilio 4, Milan
Italy
