Philosophy and Poetics
"My wood inlays embody a desire to live constantly connected to the concept of 'beauty,' simply telling stories where the materials and patterns exist in both nature and art; and I come alive in the act of manipulating, disassembling, and reassembling—striving to create personalized spaces that evoke the wonder of believing that a 'new man' in a 'new environment' is possible."
Training and Career Path
Carlo Ciccone was born in Lanciano (Chieti) in 1950. His deep connection to applied arts and the medium of wood was established early on through specialized studies guided by leading figures in contemporary Italian sculpture. After completing his diploma in Applied Arts (specializing in woodwork) at the Art Institute of Lanciano, he moved to Turin to attend the prestigious Albertina Academy of Fine Arts, focusing on sculpture. He subsequently completed his distinguished academic training by graduating from the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in L'Aquila under the mentorship of the renowned sculptor Mario Ceroli.
Carlo Ciccone’s passion for art and woodworking is rooted in the artisanal tradition of the Treglio area (CH) in Abruzzo. The artist’s journey is defined by a constant aesthetic and technical exploration, driven by the desire to breathe new life and voice into the wood itself. Today, he lives and works in Treglio, where—in his studio-workshop—he combines rigorous artistic inquiry with established craftsmanship in production and conservation.
"Participation in historic exhibitions—such as the F.P. Michetti Exhibition in Francavilla al Mare—has drawn the attention of national art critics to Carlo Ciccone’s work, accompanied by significant reviews from distinguished art critics of the caliber of Marcello Venturoli."
Handcrafted Work and Institutional Restorations
In 1979, he founded the "Arte del legno" (Art of Wood) workshop, specializing in fine cabinetmaking, art objects, and philological restoration. Always active in passing on artisanal crafts, he has directed major professional training courses funded by the European Community and the Abruzzo Region to train new cabinetmakers and restorers.
His most significant institutional conservation projects include the restoration of the wooden choir in the Church of Santa Lucia in Lanciano, complex interventions on 17th-century wooden furnishings at the Capuchin Convent of San Bartolomeo (commissioned by the Superintendency of Fine Arts of L'Aquila), and restoration work commissioned by the Archbishop's Curia for the Diocesan Museum. In 1995, he also designed and built the first gas chamber for wood-boring pest extermination in the Treglio area.
Chronology of Activities and Exhibitions
- 2009 Solo exhibition "Le Radici dello Stupore" (The Roots of Wonder), Atessa (Chieti).
- 2008 Group art exhibition "Le Radici dello Stupore," Palazzo degli Studi, Lanciano (Chieti).
- 2003 - 2005 Teaching decorative and restoration techniques for IAL CISL and CIAPI in Chieti.
- 2001 Art restoration for the Diocesan Museum (under the supervision of the L'Aquila Superintendency) and commissioned work for writer Antonio Gambino in Rome.
- 2000 First phase of restoration work on the furnishings of the Convent of San Bartolomeo, Lanciano (Chieti).
- 1995 - 1999 Editorial design and publication of major volumes on wood craftsmanship and tourist guides to Abruzzo (Tabula Srl).
- 1990 Scientific restoration of the wooden choir in the Church of Santa Lucia, Lanciano.
- 1978 - 1979 Artistic direction of the national magazine "Art Dimension" by Nino Salerno.
- 1976 F.P. Exhibition. Michetti in Francavilla al Mare (review by M. Venturoli) and a group exhibition at the Ponte di Diocleziano.
- 1974 Solo exhibition of graphic art and photography, and founding of the G11 Art Gallery.
- 1970 - 1973 Exhibitions of impromptu sculpture in Roccaraso (AQ) and the historic center of Lanciano (Chieti).