PROGETTO ARTE POLI
The Italian Renaissance
Atelier
by the artist Albano Poli
LIGHT, FORM, COLOUR... ART
Left: Risen Christ Church, Bologna
Above: mosaic representing “The Last Supper”, Church in
Marina Palmense, Fermo
ALBANO POLI
Albano Poli was born in Verona on 2nd August 1935. He attends in his youth the
Napoleone Nani Art School in Verona, run by Maestro Pino Casarini. Further to
Casarini’s suggestion, he starts with the creation of artistic glass windows in a
small antique workshop in Verona downtown. While in the beginning he works on
the restoration or reproduction of church windows, he soon combines his artistic
skills with his creative genius and starts designing his own windows. His artistic works
are immediately appreciated by the Italian artistic élite for their uniqueness, the
inner search for “preciosity” in colors, materials and working techniques as well as
for their abstract style: instead of defined forms and symbolisms, Maestro Albano
confers the message through installations of chromatic compositions perfectly
blended with the surrounding.
Maestro Albano’s inspiration soon leads him to form a team of professionals
and craftspeople sharing his genuine sensitivity. In 1953 he founds the atelier
Progetto Arte Poli, the final pronunciation of his poetry by means of all sort of
artistic expressions and techniques. The atelier is an authentic “renaissance”
workshop where the perfectionist investigative spirit of the Maestro is revealed.
Each creation - stained glasses, mosaics, frescoes, renovation projects, bas-relief,
full-relief - is a unique jewel in itself.
Throughout his career Maestro Albano has collaborated with most of Italian
ecclesiastical and cultural heritage Superintendences. His contributions to the
restoration, renovation and renewal of many historical buildings merited mentions
and awards: in June 2009 H.E. Cardinal Bertone invested Albano Poli as Knight of
the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great for his artistic works in The
Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.
Albano Poli is appointed by Cardinal Bertone as Knight of the Papal Equestrian Order
of Saint Gregory the Great (an honour awarded by Cardinal A. di Montezemolo)
Bishop P. De Nicolò (Regent of the Apostolic
Palace), Archi-Bishop J. M. Harvey (Prefect
of the Apostolic Palace) and Albano Poli visiting the apartments of the Vatican.
Albano Poli and Pope Benedetto XVI
Albano Poli with the Superintendence managers during a visit to the restoration workshop.
in 2011 he received two Faith&Form Awards: the first one in the “Design for Liturgy” category for the works implemented at the Church of Jesus, the Divine Master, in Rome and the second one in the “Liturgical Art” category for the stained glass windows created in
the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls in Rome.
Faith&Form Award is an international award for art and architecture design. It is organized on a yearly basis and co-organized by
the four-monthly magazine “Faith&Form” and by the department of “renovation and building of places of worship” of AIA (American
Institute of Architects) IFRAA (Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture).
Albano Poli with a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his workshop while
creating stained glass windows.
Meeting between Albano Poli and Mons.
Francesco Cacucci for the production
of the monumental candleholder of the
Cathedral of Bari.
Card. G.B.Re, Albano Poli and papal
nuncio L. Baldisseri on the inauguration day
of the new windows of the Cathedral of
Casthanal, Brasil.
Card. Stanisław Dziwizc with Albano Poli on
the inauguration day of the mosaics of the
Sanctuary Madonna delle Grazie, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia
Albano Poli and the rector of the Religious
Community of the Holy Cross P. Di Marcantonio follow the installation of the new rose
window.
PROGETTO ARTE POLI
An authentic love and a deep devotion for the infinite expressions of art pushed
Albano Poli to establish Progetto Arte Poli, a workshop where more than sixty professionals, including architects, artisans and technicians, guided by him design
and create artworks.
From raw materials to manpower: just like in the ancient workshops of the Renaissance, the artist and his assistants make use of painting, sculpture and different
materials to create works able to preserve, in a detailed way, the preciousness
and the precision of the ancient techniques and to bring with them the breath of
an invention based on the abstraction of contemporary art.
During the design and the creation phases, the artist feels as if he was inside a
vortex, which takes him back to the starting point so that he can further develop
his work and generate new ideas and creations. This working method allows the
artist to make use of different techniques to create artistic stained glass windows,
mosaics, frescos, wrought steel works, sculptures and even to carry out preservation and restoration interventions.
A technique is often used together with anothers. In this way, it is possible to create
beautiful and clever works, which can really communicate and pass new messages strictly linked to the place where they are harmoniously inserted.
Albano Poli, Paolo Poli with Card. S.Dziwizc
on the inauguration day of the mosaics
made in the Maria delle Grazie Sancturary,
San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
Pope Benedetto XVI is blessing the bronze
sculpture for “The Third Millennium Cross
Monument”, Chile. Paolo Poli, Card.
A.Bagnasco and Don Ramòn Javier Bravo
(President of the Third Millennium Cross
Monument Committee).
Cardinal D. Tettamanzi during the celebration at Don Carlo Gnocchi Church in Milan.
Progetto Arte Poli is of course an artistic workshop, but the company can also deal
with all the technical aspects of the projects, thus offering an all inclusive service
ranging from design to creation: an added value also confirmed by the S.O.A.
certification in the OS2, OG2, OS6 categories obtained by the company.
Card. C.Ruini during the consecration of
the altar in Jesus the Divine Master Church
in Rome; Card. A.Vallini during the benediction of the baptismal font.
Paolo Poli with Card. K.Nycz.
Pope Francesco is blessing the bronze
sculpture representing Pope John Paul II.
Card. D.Tettamanzi during the consecration
of the altar in S.Leonardo Murialdo Church in
Milan; the Auxiliary Bishop E. De Scalzi during
the inauguration of the baptismal font.
Cecilia Morel (Chile President’s wife) is opening the bronze door on the inauguration
day of the Third Millennium Cross Monument.
ARTE POLI GALLERY
Arte Poli Gallery is situated near St.Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Getting in the gallery gives you the possibility of both looking at Poli’s
masterpieces and understanding the preciousness of the materials used.
“To look” at a work means to appreciate its beauty, its meaning and understand how it was realized. Each material has its own unique characteristics: the stiffness of the stone, the fragility and the transparency of the glass up to the incredible capacity of turning
of the bronze.
Each creation is the final result of manual ability, sensibility and experience: values getting more and more precious and rare in our
modern world.
A.Chendi as lecturer at an exhibition of
paintings by Albano Poli in the gallery.
Albano Poli and Card. A.Sodano during the
exhibition “On the road to the Cross” at the
gallery.
Card. J.Sandoval and Mons. G.Zenti during
a visit at the atelier in Verona.
Card. D.W.Wuerl in visit at the gallery.
Card. D.Castrillón Hoyos during a visit at the
gallery.
CONTEMPORARY STAINED
GLASS WINDOWS
Some glass works
Artistic glass windows exclusively made with mouth blown glass following the
antique glass technique, coloured with natural oxides: a millenary process
that permits to make glass of unique transparency and colours.
IMMACULATE HEART CHURCH, AVELLINO
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, COLOMBARE DI SIRMIONE, BRESCIA
CHURCH IN RIVA DEL GARDA, TRENTO
PAPAL BASILICA OF ST.PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS, ROME
SAINT BERETTA MOLLA CHURCH, ROME
CLASSICAL STAINED
GLASS WINDOWS
Some glass works
The style of the classic window fascinates people, today as in the past,
through the unchanged grisalia technique and the evocative holy images.
Thanks to the colours of the mouth blown glass, the arrangements become
precious gems set in the antique architectures, while the figurative windows
are the result of the delicate balance between architecture, expectations
and art of the Master Albano Poli
GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY, ROME
CHURCH IN XITANG, PECHINO
CHURCH IN VERONA
ROSE WINDOW, GEOMETRIC DESIGN
CHURCH IN ANAGNI, FROSINONE
MOSAICS
Some mosaics
The artworks come alive through a creful combination of the glass tesseras,
the smalti, the stone and the marbles, used to make both architectural parts
and furnishings. The tesseras are hand-cut and shaped using the hammer
(folloing the antique mosaic tradition) or the saw for the inlay works. The mosaics are made using the indirect technique putting the tesseras on a piece
of paper and glue or using the modern direct technique where the mosaic is
put on a net and then installed.
MOSAIC REPRESENTING SAINT MARY
CHURCH IN MARANELLO, MODENA
RENEWAL OF THE PRESBYTERY WITH LITURGICAL FURNITURE AND MOSAIC
CHURCH OF JESUS THE DIVINE MASTER, ROME
MOSAIC REPRESENTING SAINT MARY
CARMELITE ORDER INSTITUTE, VERONA
MOSAIC REPRESENTING POPE JOHN PAUL II
SANCTUARY OF MARIA DELLE GRAZIE, SAN
GIOVANNI ROTONDO, FOGGIA
MOSAIC REPRESENTING FATHER MATTEO RICCI
SANTA CROCE CHURCH, MACERATA
INLAY MOSAIC
ST. GAESTANO CHURCH, VALDAGNO, UDINE
MOSAIC OF GOLD TESSERAS
CATHEDRAL IN MODENA
WROUGHT IRON
AND METAL WORKS
Some works of wrought iron and metal
The succession of the beats on the hot iron gives life to vibrant artworks which,
thanks to a wise use of the light that is spread and reflected, shadows and
glows, decorate and enhance the environment. Not just iron, but also copper
and brass are forged by innovative ideas and abilities that people often
believe have disappeared.
TABERNACLE AND CANDLEHOLDER
SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA CHURCH, LATINA
GRATING OF WROUGHT IRON
CHURCH IN TORREMAGGIORE, FOGGIA
LAMPS OF WROUGHT IRON AND METAL
RAILING OF WROUGHT IRON AND GLASS
CHURCH IN ZELARINO, VENICE
SCULPTURE OF WROUGHT IRON
ST.GENNARO CHURCH, FOLIGNANO, ASCOLI PICENO
ENTRANCE DOOR OF STEEL AND GLASS
ST.FRANCIS AND CLARE CHURCH,
MARGHERA, VENICE
GRATING OF WROUGHT IRON
ST.FRANCIS AND CLARE CHURCH, COLOMBARE DI SIRMIONE, BRESCIA
FRESCOES
Some frescoes
The frescoe decoration, according to the traditional technique, or false
fresco using the modern decorative technique, is a way of expression free
from the limitations of the material, and becomes an artwork that, without
compromises, can faithully transmit an idea, a message, a feeling.
HOTEL IN JAPAN
SERIES OF FRESCOES
WEDDING HOUSE, JAPAN
CUPOLA WITH FRESCOES
BRONZE
Some bronze works
Unique liturgical concepts designed and created by the Italian craftsmen.
In his atelier Albano Poli personally designs and creates masterpieces that,
thanks to the antique lost-wax production process, are the result of a research
and a quest for perfection.
BRONZE SCULPTURE REPRESENTING ST.MARY
PARICH CHURCH IN SELARGIUS, CAGLIARI
ANGEL OF BRONZE
BRONZE SCULPTURE REPRESENTING POPE
JOHN PAUL II, CROSS OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM MONUMENT, CHILE
ENTRANCE DOOR OF BRONZE AND WOOD
ST.JOSEPH CHURCH, BRESCIA
ENTRANCE DOOR OF BRONZE AND WOOD
CHURCH IN MASCARINO VENEZZANO,
BOLOGNA
ANGEL OF BRONZE
SCULPTURE OF BRONZE AND GLASS
ST.CHARLES CHURCH, TRENTO
STONE
Some stone works
From the design of the Master to the artwork, starting from the choice of
Italian raw materials of the highest quality. The indestructible stone is shaped
by the willing of the artist as to adapt perfectly to the liturgical objects and the
architectural components.
STONE SCULPTURE
ST. FIDENZIO CHURCH, VERONA
LITURGICAL FURNITURE
CHURCH IN POTENZA PICENA, ASCOLI PICENO
LITURGICAL FURNITURE
CHURCH IN TREVISO
CANDLEHOLDER
CATHEDRAL IN BARI
DECORATIVE WALL AND LITURGICAL FURNITURE OF STONE
CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA,
LATINA
RECENT ARTWORKS
Among the most recent artworks we have made three bronze doors at the
parish church in Montemerlo (PD) and a mosaic and bronze doors and
sculptures at the Third Millennium Monument in Chile.
Parish Church
Montemerlo, Padua
The Third Millennium
Cross Monument, Chile
Card. J.Medina Estévez and the bishop B.Piñera during the inauguration
Outside view ot The Third Millennium Cross
Monument, Chile
The wife of the President of Chile, Cecilia
Morel, in opening the bronze door on the
inauguration day
The bronze sculpture representing Pope
John Paul II
Entrance doors of bronze
Church in Montemerlo, Padua
Pope Benedetto XVI is blessing the bronze crucifix and door for The Third Millennium Cross Monument, Chile
Cecilia Morel in the church on the inauguration day