This exhaustive monograph, published on the occasion of the first anthological exhibition dedicated to him, retraces the intensely lived, brief artistic career of Alfonso Leoni (Faenza, 1941-1980). An extraordinary talent, he was the protagonist of a research constantly against the mainstream, to set ceramics free from the mere technical and functional aspects and elevate it to sculptural matter.
His activity - recognized with numerous prizes in the main national and international events dedicated to ceramics, such as the competitions in Faenza (first prize in 1976), Gualdo Tadino, Cervia, Gubbio, Rimini, Castellamonte, Vallauris, Nagoya-Kanazawa - was a continuous search for new stimuli and experimentation with different languages: Leoni wrote, argued, drew, painted, reused materials, designed jewels, moulded sculptures, created installations, undertook performances, worked for the ceramic industry.
The text draws the figure of a “rebellious genius”, son of his time, a time of protest and avant-garde movements of the Sixties and Seventies. The result is the portrait of a worried soul, always aiming at going beyond stereotypes.

Faenza, MIC, October 2020 - January 2021

Contents

Alfonso Leoni. “Looking at Ceramics with Different Eyes”
Claudia Casali

CATALOGUE

The beginning
Painting, collages, erasures, and optical compositions 1952-1970
Plates and large bowls 1964-1980
Jewels 1963-1970
Crushed vases 1965, Folded vases 1965-1980, Torsioni 1973-1974, Flussi 1972-1980, Perforated vases 1967-1970
Plastic, wood, plexiglas 1965-1975
Metals 1966-1975
Panels 1965-1975
War tanks 1972-1973
Archaeological showcases
Porcelain 1976-1979
Earthenware 1980
Works with a religious theme

The Industrial Experience
Pier Giorgio Burzacchini

Exhaustive List of Exhibitions
Claudia Casali

Public Orders
Claudia Casali

Bibliography
Marcela Kubovova