
Salvatore Rizzello
Young artist and sculptor from Salento, he was born January 14, 1977 and since the first studies he directs his interest in the art world.
He attended initially “Francesca Capece” experimental art school in Maglie, where he graduated in 1996, and later He enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, where he attended the first year of the sculpture class.
After he moved at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, continuing his studies in sculpture with the Master Mauro Mazzali, until in 2002 he graduated cum laude with a thesis titled: “Megalithic: sculptures of the past“.
After graduating, Salvatore returns to Carpignano Salentino, in Lecce’s province, his country of origin, and here he starts OFFART DESIGN, atelier of contemporary sculpture and design, as well as school of sculpture. From here he continues the search for a personal language done of texture that distort and almost always transfigure Mediterranean materials: wood and stone.
Since about five years he creates sculptures for the body made of olive wood and steel. Each sculpture is obtained from olive tree trunks or branches selected as early as five years before use. The parts in stainless steel (nickel-free) are not obtained through fusion, but always with cold working processes and are modeled on the surface of the wood, as a sort of genetic modification in respect of the skin and the body of the wearer.
Participation in cultural events and exhibitions
Participation in cultural events and exhibitions
Since 1998, he participates at numerous personal and collective exhibitions on the whole national territory;
1998 Workshop of African sculpture “The Stones of Tengenenge” organized by CARISBO (BO).
1999 Sculpture Symposium on Wood “Wood and feelings” organized by the municipality of Ossana (TN).
Ice Sculpture Symposium “Art on Ice” organized by the municipality of Livigno (Sondrio).
2000 National Competition of sculpture “Alessandro Monteleone” organized by the municipality of R. Calabria as a representative of the Academy of Bologna.
In 2001 collective at cultural center LINK of Bologna.
In 2003 he teaches sculpture at the home district of Lecce for a total of 80 hours.
In 2007, he teaches theory and practice of stone at the professional institute for tourist services (IISS) S. Cutter Martano (LE) for a total of 10 hours.
In 2008 he holds a personal exhibition at the gallery Dicio Design in Milan.
In 2010 he is selected by the Italian Government – Ministry of Youth, to the meeting TNT festival of young talents held in Rome at the Congress Palace EUR from 17 to 21 November.
In December 2011 he participates at the show “ITALIAN STYLE” in the prestigious location of the Grimaldi Forum; the exhibition has closed the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, and has been organized by the Italian Embassy in the Principality of Monaco under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.
In 2013 Samuji (Finnish fashion and design brand) uses, for the spring summer collection 2014, some “sculptures for the body” in olive wood designed and realized by Rizzello.