When a woodpecker does more than just “tap-tap”: Enzo Bioli’s workshop that reinvented ceramics from Parma to the world
In 1967, Enzo Bioli founded “Il Picchio”, a ceramics workshop in Parma. Active until 1985, the workshop produced both artistic and series pieces, recognized nationally and internationally. Every piece of Il Picchio ceramics combines functionality, beauty, and everyday poetry. Today, the exhibition “THE BEAT OF IL PICCHIO” at Gilda&Co celebrates this legacy, showcasing over 150 pieces signed by Bioli.
Enzo Bioli: The Artisan of Design
Enzo Bioli was born in Parma in 1932 and studied set design and visual arts at prestigious academies. His career spanned painting, graphics, set design, and ceramics. The Il Picchio logo, hand-drawn by Bioli himself, symbolizes the workshop. The woodpecker, a hardworking and rhythmic bird, becomes a metaphor for the precise and continuous work of the workshop: the pecking beat mirrors the rhythm of the potter’s wheel and kiln.
Modular and Cohesive Ceramics
Il Picchio ceramics are not just vases or plates. Lamps, ashtrays, cups, and more interact with one another. Bioli’s “space age” shapes, conical bases, and vibrant glazes — orange, ultramarine blue, glossy black — make each piece unique and versatile. Every element is designed to create a harmonious space where functionality and design coexist.
Why You Should Visit the Exhibition
The Gilda&Co exhibition showcases over 150 pieces, the result of Bioli’s creativity and craftsmanship, offering a complete view of a unique episode in 20th-century Italian design. “THE BEAT OF IL PICCHIO”, running from [insert start date] to [insert end date], is not just an exhibition: it is a journey through time and space in Italian ceramics, where art and design meet. Each piece reflects the precision, imagination, and identity of Enzo Bioli, a creative who transformed clay into an international language without ever losing the connection to everyday life. Don’t miss the chance to experience Bioli’s creative beat firsthand and get inspired!
