Rome, Italy – Galleria Vittoria is delighted to announce the inauguration of “Il tempo della creazione” (The Time of Creation), the first solo exhibition of Roman artist Milena Scarcella. The event will take place on April 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM and will run until April 18, 2025.
Milena Scarcella is renowned for her unique exploration of contemporary mosaics crafted from polymer clay. The exhibition, curated by art historian Lorenzo Canova and supported by the Lazio Region and the Province of Rieti, will showcase around twenty exclusive pieces that blend artisanal craftsmanship with technical rigor and aesthetic research.
Each artwork manifests an intricate relationship between ancient traditions and modern techniques, utilizing polymer clay to create meticulously sculpted and hand-assembled tesserae. The creation process is labor-intensive and reflective, involving the shaping, painting, firing, and embellishing of tiles with 24-carat gold leaf and platinum, often containing micro-mosaics within. The result is a collection that defies time, where meticulous care transpires into tangible beauty, with surfaces that sparkle and capture light, reflecting the poetry inherent in the medium.
“I firmly believe that art is the language of the soul, capable of transmitting emotions and connecting us with the beauty that surrounds us. In my mosaics, I strive to capture the essence of matter and convey feelings that transcend words. Each tile tells a story that you can observe and touch,” shares Scarcella.
According to Lorenzo Canova, “Milena Scarcella has forged a personal language that merges the wisdom of mosaic techniques with contemporary aesthetic sensitivity. Each piece results from patient and meticulous manual construction, translating into precious, poetic, and deeply evocative images that recall distant and inner worlds. Her art is born from time and celebrates time: the time of execution, waiting, and contemplation.”
Her works exhibit a fascination with the symbolic sophistication of Gustav Klimt, as seen in their rich coloration and use of noble materials like gold, intertwined with natural elements, floral motifs, and forms that evoke primitive beauty bridging nature and myth.
Tiziana Todi, director of Galleria Vittoria, notes, “We are proud to host Milena Scarcella’s first exhibition, where the artist impressively blends technique with poetry, rigor with freedom. Her mosaics are true artistic jewels, speaking to the heart through light, matter, and the slow gesture of creativity. What makes her work extraordinary is the originality and coherence she demonstrates in her abstract approach. In her pieces, we find not the figure, but a vibrant architecture of tiles that evoke profound emotions and refer to inner landscapes and dreamlike visions.”
To accompany the exhibition, a catalog published by Officine Vittoria will be presented, featuring critical texts by Lorenzo Canova and a selection of images of the displayed works.
Milena Scarcella was born in Rome in 1976 and has embarked on a rich and varied artistic journey from a young age. After earning a diploma in Fashion Illustration and Stylist at the European Academy of Fashion and Costume in Rome, where she received a merit certificate, she explored her passion for art through oil and tempera painting.
Over the years, she expanded her artistic skills by experimenting with various techniques and materials. She began professionally by creating salt dough dolls and eventually moved on to crafting artistic jewelry from polymer clay. This encounter with modern materials marked a turning point in her career, leading her to specialize for several years in the production of jewelry, cabochons, and components for other designers and creatives.
Milena’s participation in numerous industry events and fairs in cities like Milan, Vicenza, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Palermo has helped showcase her work and creativity, enabling her to connect with a vast network of professionals and enthusiasts.
In 2008, Milena chose to relocate to the enchanting Sabine countryside, immersed in nature. Here, in a workshop situated between a forest and an olive grove, she transformed her ideas and emotions into art, creating intricate and precious mosaics made from polymer clay and noble metals. The bucolic environment has nourished her creativity and profoundly influenced her work, reflecting her ongoing pursuit of beauty and the colors of nature, making each piece unique and brimming with vibrant significance. Milena Scarcella’s art is dedicated to conveying emotions and stories through her creations, blending her love of art with a unique vision that narrates a journey of visual and sensory exploration.
Photo credits: The photographs are the property of the gallery.