Pietro Sanna

Pietro Sanna is an Italian contemporary artist, born in Sardinia and now living and working in York, UK. Originally trained in painting and collage, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2014, during his degree in Contemporary 3D Craft at York College where he began experimenting with ceramics. This exploration led to his signature approach: using the ceramic vessel as a three-dimensional canvas to express layered narratives through visual imagery, words, and poetry.

Pietro’s hand-built vessels are created using the coil technique, resulting in deliberately uneven and asymmetrical forms. These shapes become surfaces for complex stories, incorporating statements, his own poetry, hand-drawn imagery, and reflections on political, sociological, and philosophical themes. His work often examines the human emotions: life, love, death, and the struggles of individuals and society, with recurring motifs that evoke a mantra-like rhythm.

A distinctive feature of Pietro’s work is his use of 24-karat gold. This material is both a decorative and conceptual element, symbolizing humanity’s historical and contemporary relationship with wealth, power, and value. Through gold, he invites viewers to reflect on the enduring influence and perception of this material in shaping society.

In addition to his hand-built vessels, Pietro creates slip-cast multiples, exploring the deconstruction of shape and simplicity of form. His work balances experimentation with a deep understanding of clay’s possibilities, merging fine art and craft into a cohesive practice.

Pietro’s work has been exhibited in galleries across the UK, where it continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of form, narrative, and material exploration.