Paola GRIZI Italian

• For many years Paola Grizi has produced incredible sculptures of faces that seem to emerge from the pages of books. Whether sculpted in terracotta or cast in bronze, she subtly manipulates the compositions to evoke emotion. These mysterious faces seem to appear from the ether, sometimes casting a meditative gaze and at other times lacking any eyes at all.

• The works of Paola Grizi are highly contemplative. There are many possible interpretations.  On one side there is the conceptual and rational sphere (the book); On the opposite the intuitive and tactile part (the face). Communication occurs mainly through emotions and moods rather than being didactic and rational.

• The pages of the books appear to get thinner as the “paper” flips and folds to create new dynamic compositions. Interestingly, her focus on these literary pieces of art recalls her own passion for the written word—Grizi studied Classics and Italian Literature, even working as a journalist and editor prior to focusing on her art career.

• The faces emerge seamlessly from flows of thoughts, that sometimes go in different directions, between the pages full of characters expressed in a language that can be understood intuitively only by the unconscious. 

• Paola Grizi skillfully manipulates her mediums of choice, with her sculptures continually evolving into more complex pieces of architecture. The artwork of Paola Grizi celebrates the artistic creation. Eyes, faces, hands appear through the pages of her bronze book-sculptures, making them alive, and questioning the public about their stories. Inspiration fills the pages with illegible characters keeping the mystery and allowing the dream to go on.