Origins
Sandra and Stefano Giusti were born in 1962 and 1959, respectively.
They began working in ceramics in 1980, in Florence, under the guidance of the ceramic sculptor Giancarlo Girard, with whom they would later collaborate for about two years.
They attended the cotto school in Impruneta. There, together with other ceramists, they open a workshop that is later transferred to Pontassieve. They collaborate on the creation of limited series of artists. Their interest in everyday ceramics also begins to emerge, which takes shape in the association “La Fierucola.”
In 1989 the workshop was moved to Paterno di Pelago, in the hills surrounding Florence.
Production is particularly focused on everyday objects where the values of tradition are well combined with contemporary language.
Teaching
Alongside the creation of objects they also teach both at their own studio and for private and public facilities in the area, trying to convey the beauty and freedom that distinguishes this work. For more than 30 years they have been permanently teaching the craft in public and private schools in the Florentine territory.
From 2015 to 2021 they held workshops at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Florence.
In 2024 they taught a course on porcelain at the “Ginori White Gold Exhibition” organized by the Cologni Foundation at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan.
Exhibitions
They have made lines of tableware and furniture objects for Haas and Mastro Raphaël. They also collaborated with the “Ardengo Soffici” artists’ association to create the ceramic part of a monument located on the outskirts of Florence.
Their works have been exhibited in various cities including Florence, San Gimignano, Paris, Munich and Nanjing. They also exhibited at the Florence Craft Fair from 1987 to 1990, where their objects were chosen for the national advertising campaign.
In the past year, they have exhibited at the Craft Gallery in Fortezza da Basso in Florence, at the Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, “Eros,” Montelupo F.no, at the Craft Gallery in Frankfurt, at the Hotel Astoria, Florence, Artour project, at Macef in Milan, in a side exhibition within the intinerant event “Wine and Fashion.”
They exhibited for 3 consecutive years at the “Gallery” exhibition at the Crafts and Palace event at Serre Torrigiani in Florence.
In 2022 they received an award at the Design Week in Eindhoven for creating a modular ceramic bench in collaboration with designer Lorenzo Masini.
In 2023 They exhibited at “Maison et Objet” in Paris with a European project by Crafting Europe.
From 2022 They exhibited for 3 consecutive years at the “Gallery” exhibition at the Crafts and Palace event at Serre Torrigiani in Florence.
In 2024 they participated in the Orléans “salon des métiers d art” exhibition in Orléans with a European project of Crafting Europe.
Organizations and publications
Since 2000 they have been the promoters of the International Ceramics Fair held annually in Florence, bringing together ninety ceramists from different European states. They were inspirers and founding members of the ceramists’ association “Art of Ceramics” founded in 2004.
They have published a book dedicated to teaching: “The Art of Shaping Clay Explained to Kids” published by LEF that explains teaching and various basic techniques that can be used by kids.
In collaboration with the Arte della Ceramica association, they published:
“The Sustainable Ceramic Everyday” a book dedicated to the sustainability of a ceramic craft workshop that explains in detail all the recycling processes that can be implemented in these small businesses.
In collaboration with the Arte della Ceramica association, they have translated into Italian the famous book that has inspired many ceramists, “The potter’s book” by Berard Leach: “Il Ceramista ”Bernard Leach
Second Generation
In recent years their children Lapo and Emma have also joined the firm to carry on a family tradition that has been going on for 45 years.
He with knowledge of chemistry and she with a degree in design are continuing the search for new shapes, materials and finishes.
