Alchemy in Ceramics: Shilha Cintelli at the Carlo Zauli Museum

Alchemy in Ceramics: Shilha Cintelli at the Carlo Zauli Museum

The Carlo Zauli Museum in Faenza hosts Alchemy in Ceramics, a solo exhibition by Empoli-born artist Shilha Cintelli that examines the connection between nourishment, identity and transformation through contemporary ceramics.

Presented in collaboration with AiCC and the museum, the show centers on the installation "Called to perform an act of transformation along the transit of apparent duality / Cluster" (2024), inspired by Ludwig Feuerbach's idea that "man is what he eats."

What to expect

The exhibition features a participatory installation that links material ceramic practice with symbolic references — including the Enneagram of personalities — encouraging interpretations that combine psychological, relational and transformative dimensions. At the opening, the artist unveils a site-specific intervention made of three cubic elements (black, gold and terracotta) that anticipate the main installation and converse with Carlo Zauli's work "Primario Esploso."

Context and contributions

The project includes a scientific contribution from researcher Caterina Dinnella (University of Florence), who investigates individual responses to food as a dynamic element in shaping personal and social identity. The placement within the evocative "Sala dei Forni" frames a dialogue between contemporary ceramic research and Carlo Zauli's legacy, evoking alchemical stages in a symbolic reading.

Practical information

• Opening: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 18:30
• Exhibition period: on view until May 24, 2026
• Venue: Carlo Zauli Museum, Faenza
• Organizers: AiCC in collaboration with the Carlo Zauli Museum
• For times and bookings: check the museum's official website or information channels

Born in Empoli in 1986 and trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Shilha Cintelli develops a practice that combines artistic production, restoration experience and cultural projects. The exhibition is a chance to engage with contemporary ceramic practices alongside a major regional figure.