Workshop with
Alessandro Gallo
Ceramic Sculpture (Non-Beginner)
May 11–16, 2020
$825
Join us for "Narrative in Clay," a six-day, figurative ceramic sculpture workshop with Alessandro Gallo. It will be held from May 11–16, 2020 at Karen Russo Studio in Elmira, OR. Last year, Alessandro taught this workshop at Karen Russo Studio. It was very successful and we are fortunate to have him return. Registration information is located at the bottom of the page.
Alessandro Gallo will share his sculpting process, from hand-building a figure using solid clay construction to painting the figure realistically after firing. Throughout the immersive, six-day workshop, every participant will be encouraged to develop one small to medium-size figure (15–20” in height). With the help of demonstrations and videos, the workshop will cover the following:
Concept and narrative
Reference preparation
Hand-building solid piece using a pipe armature
Roughing in clay, identifying main shapes, planes and volumes
Defining progressively the piece in all its parts
Cutting the solid piece in sections
Hollowing and reassembling
Sculpting and refining
Details
Firing
Post-firing, glues and tools
Painting and finishing techniques
Artist Biography
Alessandro Gallo was born in 1974 in Genoa, Italy and is now based in Helena, Montana. After studying Law at the University of Genoa, Gallo moved to London where he studied at Saint Martin’s College of Art and at Chelsea School of Art and Design. Gallo has shown internationally and his work was featured in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and in the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011. In 2012, he was awarded a first place grant from the Virginia A. Groot Foundation. In 2014 and 2016 he had solo shows at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York. Alessandro was selected as a Demonstrating Artist for 2018 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts).
Artist Style
Alessandro Gallo riffs on the human tendency to attach personality traits to the actions and habits of animals. Gallo initially worked as a painter and decorator in London, and then started digitally manipulating images by inserting animals into city scenes in a humorous, nonsensical fashion. His two-dimensional images grew into three-dimensional sculptures of anthropomorphic, hybrid figures. The works consist of human bodies with animal heads measuring approximately two feet tall. While decidedly surreal, Gallo’s figures are rooted in realism. Set in familiar contexts such as park benches and subway platforms, the animals embody wholly relatable psychological states.
Please note: All images are attributed to Alessandro Gallo.
Registration Information
$825 fee includes:
Instruction
Demonstrations
25 lbs. clay
Open studio hours
12-student enrollment
First-come, first-served basis
Clay experience is recommended
No bisque firing provided
Workshop Location
Contact Karen Russo
Information about Alessandro Gallo