Massimiliano Pelletti

Massimiliano Pelletti (b. 1975, Pietrasanta) is a contemporary sculptor whose work explores the intersection of classical heritage and geological truth. Having trained in his grandfather’s marble atelier, Pelletti possesses a deep technical mastery of traditional Italian carving, yet his practice is defined by a departure from the pursuit of idealized form.

Rather than selecting flawless blocks, Pelletti identifies stones with inherent "imperfections"—cracks, inclusions, and erosions. By utilizing unconventional materials like Mexican onyx, volcanic rock, and sodalite, he allows the natural biography of the stone to coexist with human craftsmanship. His sculptures often reference Greco-Roman archetypes, but they appear as recovered fragments where the raw, unpolished state of the mineral interrupts the familiar lines of antiquity.

Pelletti's work has been exhibited in major international institutions, including the National Roman Museum at Palazzo Massimo and the Temple of Hadrian in Rome; the Chinese museums Zhejiang Art Museum in Shanghai, Wuhan Art Museum, and Guangdong Museum of Art. Through a subtle balance between ruin and refinement, it invites viewers to reflect on the permanence of history as opposed to the fragile and changing nature of the earth itself. Through a subtle balance of ruin and refinement, he invites viewers to consider the permanence of history against the fragile, changing nature of the earth itself.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Massimiliano Pelletti, Ph. Nicola Gnesi