Pier Paolo Calzolari

Pier Paolo Calzolari was born in Bologna in 1943 and lives and works in Lisbon.  

In the 1960s, Pier Paolo Calzolari developed a practice rooted in action and performance, closely aligned with Art Povera, Conceptual Art, Minimalism, and the approach of Joseph Beuys. The passage of time is a central theme in his work. The materials he chooses bear witness to their own transformation, revealing their evolution into new states of matter. 

At Atelier Calder, Calzolari created a series of lead bathtubs. The choice of this material is significant: its malleability makes the deformations and the traces of time visible. Their surfaces, initially matte, are transformed by the light, revealing bluish tones and shimmering reflections that bring the material to life. Another series of works created at Atelier Calder refers to a recurring motif in Calzolari’s practice: tables. Upon them, objects are arranged according to a precise order, in which each element finds its place. Speaking about this series, the artist stated, “The form is perfect, I place it in space … the relationship established between my necessity, my function, the demand, and the material is one of absolute communion.”