Paola Paronetto’s journey with ceramics began in childhood, guided by master ceramists. Driven by curiosity, she explored new materials and techniques, ultimately discovering paper clay—a medium that defies tradition and fuels her creative vision.
In her Porcia studio, she launched the “Cartocci” collection in the early 2000s. These works are both solid and delicately light, embodying her passion for layered processes, beautiful imperfections, and expressive color.
Today, her paper clay pieces are exhibited worldwide, seamlessly blending with contemporary art and design. They appear in leading galleries and museums, as well as at major international design events.
Paronetto has held solo shows at Ille Arts in New York and the Contemporary Ceramic Centre in London, with her first major Italian retrospective at Milan’s ADI Design Museum in 2021. Her creative path and inspirations are captured in the photography book “Paola Paronetto. Metafore,” unveiled at Triennale Milano.
It’s been a privilege for Hue&Eye to have had an exclusive interview with her.
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Hello Paola, and welcome to Hue&Eye Mag!
We’re excited to explore your artistic practice and discover what continuously inspires your creative process.
You discovered ceramics at a very young age and learned to craft clay from master ceramists. What initially truly fascinated you about clay materials, and how did you end up working with paper clay?
The sensation of fresh, soft clay between my fingers is what won me over from the very beginning. The wheel was especially captivating; seeing a shape emerge from a lump of clay in moments was remarkable. Yet over the years, I felt the need to move beyond familiar patterns. So I went toward something more fluid, lighter, and more dynamic. From this search for freedom came my experimentation with paperclay, a journey that lasted for months and eventually gave life to my collection “Cartocci”.
Choosing such a unique technique and material has also made you renowned as the artist who works with paper clay. Is this for you a limiting definition or a unique outcome?
The “Cartocci” collection marks the achievement of a path shaped by research and dedication, a result that I feel is mine deeply. For me, the matter and the technique — the “how” I get to my destination — are just necessary means. What truly matters is not the process itself, but the end result: the challenge of translating a mental image into a real object. My true goal is to give shape, as faithfully as possible, to what I imagine, making the immaterial tangible.
Do you primarily create your pieces in your workshop? We’d also love to hear more about what inspires you and how you transform an initial idea into a finished work.
My work is born in the silence of my studio, a place of peace and nature, where what I see and what I feel slowly take shape. Inspiration is everywhere for me; it lives in all that surrounds me, but it is above all in the magnificence of nature, which I find to be my deepest guide.
Is there a particular piece that you feel best represents your artistic identity or journey?
The shape that represents me most is the Bottle, perceived as an animated figure with its own personality and attitude, always seeking connection and sharing.
What emotions or thoughts do you hope your work evokes in viewers?
Once the work has been created, my greatest desire is for it to become a mirror: I hope that anyone who looks at my pieces can find something different and deeply personal in them, yet always something positive, serene, and fulfilling.
If a young designer asked you for career advice, is there a particular insight or lesson from your experience as an artist that you would most like to share?
The only advice I feel like offering to young designers is to seek themselves, to always value diversity, and whatever makes them unique.
Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about and would like to share with us?
I never speak about my projects before they are finished, perhaps out of superstition…
We’re grateful for your collaboration with Hue&Eye, and for the opportunity to highlight your creative vision. By sharing your story, you help foster an inspiring, ever-evolving community of artists.
