Marta Palmieri (Italian, b. 1973) is an artist based in Senigallia, Italy, in the Marche region. Working primarily in ceramics, Palmieri makes sculptures that are seemingly ancient and modern in equal measure. She draws inspiration from an expansive set of sources, such as ruins from past civilizations, Italy’s conceptual Arte Povera movement of the 1960s and 70s as well as modernist Brutalist architecture of the Post War era. Often composed from multiple distinct elements, each work’s surface is carefully executed by layering glazes and employing etching solutions and oxidation compounds. Individual objects are often placed together in lyrical arrangements or precariously stacked upon one another, challenging the viewer’s perceptions of balance and gravity. In her glazes, Palmieri creates rich hues that provide a sense of timelessness, recalling the past while they exist very much in the present.
Palmieri has an extensive background in the arts; she studied visual art and architecture before attending the Fine Art Academy of Urbino, where she focused on painting, drawing, and sculpture. She is the recipient of several awards and grants, and her work has been exhibited widely throughout Italy and internationally. Palmieri’s sculptures are also featured in many private and public collections.
MARTA PALMIERI
b. 1973, Italy
EDUCATION
1997
Degree in Sculpture, Fine Arts Academy of Urbino, Italy
1994
Vocational postgraduate course certificate in Art Printer (lithography, silk screen, xylography, punta secca technique), Ancona, Italy
1992
High School of Arts Edgardo Mannucci, Italy Artistic High School
1990
High School of Arts Edgardo Mannucci, Italy Master's Degree in Art, Architecture and Furnishing Section
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
Kum Festival, Re_St, La Mole, Ancona, Italy
Archetipi, Gallery Del Monte, Fano, Italy
2017
Marta Palmieri: Ceramiche, Design Art Gallery Brocanelli, Serra Dei Conti, Italy
Marta Palmieri: Installations, Festival NotteNera, Serra Dei Conti, Italy
2014
Pietre Transparenze Volumi in Terracotta, Società della Pietra, Senigallia, Italy
2012
Marta Palmieri: Sculpture, Societa della Pietra, Senigallia, Italy
2010
Marta Palmieri, Contemporaneo Design Art Gallery, Jesi, Italy
2008
Marta Palmieri, Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona, Italy
2007
Ceramiche Rettorato, Ancona, Italy
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
Keramikos, Napoli, Italy Il Colore Interiore, Firenze, Italy
La Ceramica e le Donne, Firenze, Italy
2018
To Ideal Land of Ceramics: Exhibition of International Contemporary Ceramic Works, Tsinghua University Art Museum, China
Designing Women 2, Egg Collective, New York, NY
Zanotta: Achille Castiglioni 100th, Museo della Città and Zanotta, Ancona, Italy
Salone del Mobile Milano, Flexform Stand, Milan, Italy
FOG Design + Art with Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2017
New Ceramic Artists, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
ExtraMurum, Asolo, Italy
ExtraMurum: 15th Ceramic Fair, Montelupofiorentino, Italy
ExtraMurum: Contemporary Art in Villa, Villa Caldogno Andrea Palladio, Vicenza, Italy
2016
Omaggio ad Albissola X Review International Artists Contemporary, Albissola, Marina, Italy
2015
Terrae: La Ceramica nell’informale e nella Ricerca Contemporanea, Municipal Art Gallery, Vitelli Palace, Città di Castello, Italy
On the Spot/Rovine: Installations of Contemporary Site-specific Art, Helvia Ricina Archeological Area, Villa Potenza, Macerata, Italy
2010
Otto Scultrici in Fortezza, Bastione San Gallo, curated by Giancarlo Bojani, Fano, Italy
Creativita Ceramica Italiana: Tante Tradizioni e Pratiche in Una, Dailininku Sajungos Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania (sponsored by the Italian Institute of Culture in Vilnius)
AR(t)CEVIA International Art Festival, Arcevia, Italy
2009
AR(t)CEVIA International Art Festival, Arcevia, Italy
2008
Metodo Effe, Mole Vanvitelliana, Italy
1999
Art Gallery Gioacchini, Ancona, Italy
1997
Laboratori Paralleli, Fine Arts Academy of Urbino, Cattolica, Italy
1996
Cavoleto 96, Treia, Italy
SELECTED COMPETITIONS
2019
New Image of the Era, Taoxichuan Public Sculpture International Exhibition, Jingdezhen, China
Ceramicappignano 4 Competition Ceramics, Appignano, Italy
Young European Ceramic, Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie, France
Western Wald Prize, Hohe-Grenzhausen, Germany
Blanche de China, Musée Messèna, Beijing, China
2017
Ceramicappignano 3rd Competition Ceramics, Appignano, Italy
Manises 13th International Biennial of Ceramics, Valencia, Spain
Aveiro 13th Biennial Ceramics, Aveiro, Portugal (catalog)
Cerco-Aragon 15th International Prize of Contemporary Ceramics, Zaragoza, Spain
2015
Prize Baccio da Montelupo, International Art Ceramics Prize, Montelupo, Fiorentino, Italy
59th Premio Faenza, International Ceramics Museum, Faenza, Italy
5th Competition Lucio de Maria, Torino, Italy
2013
58th Premio Faenza, International Ceramics Museum, Faenza, Italy
2012
Celeste Prize, Italy 32th CICA International Ceramics Competition, Alcora, Spain
1998
Arti Visive 2, Genova, Italy
1997
Spinetoli 97 Sculpture Competition, Macerata, Italy
PRIZES
2017
Encouragement prize, ICAA Competition, Blanche de Chine, International Ceramic Prize, Lyon, France
2016
Special Mention 10th International Contemporary Artists Review, Albissola, Italy
2014
Winner of XXI Concorso di Ceramica Mediterranea, Grottaglie, Italy
2013
Honorable Mention, 2th Kina Kaolin Gran Prix, Jingdezhen, China
2013
Winner of 5th Triennale della Ceramica d’Este, Este, Italy
2009
Second Prize, 4th Competition of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Pesaro, Italy
1995
Winner of sculpture, Edgardo Mannucci Prize, Arcevia, Italy
1994
Winner of Piero Guidi Prize, Pesaro, Italy
COLLECTIONS
Ceramics Tsinghua University Art Museum, Tsinghua, China
Quanzhou Porcelain Road Art Development Center, Beijing, China
Ceramics Museum Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Ceramics Industrial Heritage Museum, Jingdezhen, China
Ceramic Museum of Alcora, Alcora, Spagna
Museum Palazzo Toschi, Pesaro, Italy
Episcopio Castle Ceramics Museum, Grottaglie, Italy
Craft Academy Foundation d’Este, Este, Italy
Brunori Palace Collection Artworks Giancarlo Bojani, Corinaldo, Italy
Quanzhou porcelain Road Art Development Center, Beijing, China
