BRUNO CATALANO – WORKING WITH MARBLE

For several years, Bruno Catalano has been exploring marble as a natural extension of his sculptural practice. All sculptures are made from Carrara marble and carved in Italy, in Querceta, by marble craftsman Giorgio Angeli. This emblematic material, rich in history, places his work within a classical lineage while reinforcing the tension inherent to his artistic language, between presence and absence.

The “Non finito” series, introduced in 2018, is a major expression of this approach. These sculptures are distinguished by a drapery that entirely covers the figure, rendering it invisible, almost unreal. The veil thus becomes the subject of the work itself, suggesting the body without ever revealing it.

This work originates in the clay creation process: to preserve the material’s suppleness, the sculptor covers his pieces each evening with a damp cloth. In “Non finito”, this technical element becomes a poetic form, a true partner in the creative gesture. The artist transforms it into a three-dimensional poem, embodying the idea of a work in progress.

Through this series, Bruno Catalano evokes the permanent work in progress, the back-and-forth, and the constant adjustments that nourish all creation. The ghostly aspect of the sculptures reflects this suspended state, between appearance and disappearance. It is also a reflection on the moment when the artist chooses to stop, leaving the work in a balance between incompletion and completion.

Finally, “Non finito” engages in dialogue with major sculptural traditions, particularly through the treatment of drapery, while carrying a deeply human dimension. A former laborer, sailor, and electrician, Bruno Catalano celebrates manual work here—its repetition, its rigor, and its pursuit of perfection.

Marble thus becomes, in his work, far more than a material: it is the site of a living tension between classical heritage and contemporary expression.