Francesco Navanzino
Handpainted Ceramic Art

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Francesco Navanzino

Francesco Navanzino is the revered patriarch of the Navanzino family of fine ceramic craft artists.  We discovered him by asking the prestigous Italian School of Ceramics in Caltagirone, Sicily "who are the finest ceramics artists in Sicily?"  Navanzino placed among the top three recommendations, including Varsallona and Romano, all of whom are now exhibited for the first time in the U.S. and on the worldwide web by Global Artisan Showcase.

Working in a small studio overlooking the vast valley that bears Caltigorone's store of high quality clay, Navanzino and family produce exquisite ornamental ceramics.  He favors traditional Roman handpainted styles in ceramic plates, vases, bowls and sculptures.  Yet his most unusual works are his geometric patterns, architecutral works of art, painstakingly handpainted onto curving vases that would seem to defy geometric application.

Other members of Francesco's family featured by Global Artisan include Merilena, a young emerging artist in her own right; his son, Antonio, a university instructor of fine arts; and son Luigi who is the master of the potters wheel, providing the keen sense of symmetry which creates the ceramic canvas for the handpainted artistry of the other family members.  A future son-in-law, Raphaela, handcrafts ceramic sculptures to be pained by Francesco. 

Jan Ryan