"Vele" Sculpture

Ilario Massetti, born in Milan in 1961 and currently residing in Turin, is an artist who has developed his own independent research. His expressive path moves between the precision of drawing and the three-dimensionality of sculpture, languages ​​through which he consistently explores the aesthetic structure of reality. In his graphic practice, Massetti uses simple tools such as pencil and ballpoint pen to bring bodies and figurative subjects to life. Through meticulous chiaroscuro, the artist gives weight to forms, a technical sensitivity that led his drawing "The Promise of the Morning" to be included in the international Samsung Frame TV project between 2019 and 2023. His sculptural production represents a continuous material challenge, fueled by the use of humble or recycled materials such as papier-mâché, cork, and plastic tubes. This experimental approach, enriched by training in inlay, carving, and wood sculpture, is based on a personal method of manipulation that allows the material itself to suggest new formal solutions. Massetti's work has garnered recognition, including being selected as a finalist in the 2016 Saluzzo Arte competition for the XXXVIII Matteo Olivero Prize. His work has been presented in various venues, including solo exhibitions in Turin and Poirino and group shows at Palazzo Lomellini in Carmagnola, demonstrating the creative tension that drives each of his works and his ability to synthesize visual emotion into abstract or figurative structures.