Antonio Pio Saracino
Antonio Pio Saracino is an Italian architect and designer based in New York City. Saracino has designed monuments, buildings, and modern furniture, and several of his designs are part of the permanent collections of museums such the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Art and Design in New York City and the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Saracino's work has been shown in international exhibitions and received reviews in publications such as The New York Times and Architectural Digest. Among his notable projects are the public statues The Guardians: Hero and Superhero in Manhattan's Bryant Park. Vogue named Saracino "among the most prolific Italian designers abroad."
Biography
Saracino was born in 1976 in Apulia, in the south of Italy, and attended the La Sapienza University of Architecture in Rome, where he graduated with a Master's Degree in 2003. He worked at La Sapienza as an assistant professor of architectural design and also worked with several international architectural firms. In 2004 Saracino began collaborating with Steve Blatz, an architect based in New York. Saracino has created designs for several companies and individuals such as Eni, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Bloomingdales, the Italian government, Matt Mitcham.Saracino's work has been placed as part of the permanent collections in several museums such as the Brooklyn Museum, and has been shown in solo and group exhibitions both in Italy and internationally. He has won several awards for his work and received accolades from ARTnews magazine and New Italian Blood.
The Museum of Arts and Design in New York featured Saracino's work in the 2013 exhibition Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital.
In 2013 Saracino was commissioned to design a public art project for Bryant Park in Manhattan, entitled The Guardians: Hero and Superhero. The project consisted of two 13-foot-high statues, one made of marble and one made of stainless steel, that depicted "legendary civic heroes". The first statue, The Guardians: Hero was inspired by Michelangelo's "David", and was created as a gift by the Italian Government and Eni to symbolize friendship between Italy and the United States.
Reception
Saracino's work has been the focus of several reviews. Vogue reviewed him positively, remarking that Saracino was "among the most prolific Italian industrial designers abroad and has been beatified by serial accolades." He has also been covered in publications such as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, and Wallpaper.Recognition
Works
Saracino has designed buildings, monuments and modern furniture. A selection of his design include:Projects
- Tribeca Penthouse, New York City, 2013
- Villino Residence, Apulia, Italy, 2013
- Hexa-Residence, Apulia, Italy, 2013
- Diver house, Sydney, 2010
- Seed House, Upstate NY, 2007
- Cocoon House, New York City, 2007
- Doctor's Office, Rome, EUR, 2012
- Dentist Office, Chicago Lincoln Park, 2013
- Vertical SPA, Rome, 2011
- Tennis Club, Sweden, 2008
- Art Hotel, New York City, 2007
- MaxWax Salon, New York City, 2009
- Tibi Showroom, New York City, 2007
- Tibi Boutique, New York City, 2006
- Tweezerman Boutique, Sao Paulo, 2008
- IIC NY, New York City, 2008
- Piazza King Manfredi, Apulia, Italy, 2011
Public art
- 2010: "Arc of Triumph," Rome
- 2011: "GATE 150," Washington DC
- 2011: "Holocaust Memorial", New Jersey
- 2012: "Big Bang," New York
- 2012: "GATE 200," Cordoba
- 2012: "GATE 150," Sao Paulo
- 2012: "Monument to Futurism," Rome
- 2012: "Observation Tower," France
- 2012: "The Globe," Los Angeles
- 2013: "The Arches of Hopes," New York City
- 2013: "City Within," Dubai
- 2013: "The Guardians: Hero and Superhero", New York City
Products
- Egg Shelves, 2012
- Flow Sofa, 2014
- Gem Light, 2013
- Grape, Low table, 2013
- Hexa Lounge, 2014
- Pythagoras Bowl, 2011
- Star Chair / Armchair, 2013
- Star Coffee Table, 2013
- Clover Chair, 2013
- Leaf Chair, Edition, 2011
- Blossom Chair, Edition, 2010
- Deer Chair, Edition, 2011
- Molecular Chair, Edition, 2010
- Modular Chair, Edition, 2009
- Folded Layer Table, Edition, 2005
- Adjustable Screen, Edition, 2005
- Dynamic Screen, Edition, 2006
- Expanding Light, Edition, 2005
- Formula One Trophy, Eni, 2010-13
- Ray Sofa, Edition, 2010, Permanent Collection Museum of Arts and Design, New York City
- Ray Chair, Edition, 2010, Permanent Collection Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
- Cervo Chair, Edition, 2010, Permanent Collection Brooklyn Museum, New York City
Exhibits
Group shows
- 1998: PORTRAIT 2000
- 2003: Video Exhibition
- 2005: Winner Exhibition: Metropolis Next Generation Design Competition
- 2006: Prototype, models and mock-ups physical tools in a digital age
- 2007: Mythos
- 2007: New Generation of European Art
- 2008: Public Art Installation "Adolescence of Force"
- 2009: ITALIDEA- Italian Excellence
- 2009: ARTEVERONA at the International Art Fair
- 2009: Studio Contemporary NYC
- 2009: Matt Dive Gold
- 2009: Italian Artists in New York at ISCP
- 2009: European Design Award for a sustainable present
- 2010: "Diver's House"
- 2010: Italian Art Today - site specific installations
- 2010: ICFF, International Contemporary Furniture Fair
- 2011: BUILT ArtReal, in association with Sydney Design
- 2011: Top Ten Italian Architects of the New Italian Blood Award
- 2011: Saracino's Recent Works
- 2012: Rossana Orlandi Showroom
- 2012: Musei di Carta, Temporary Museum Superstudio
- 2012: LEDs Ball
- 2012: BOFFO Show House
- 2013: Design Days Dubai, Erastudio Gallery
- 2013: Design Days Dubai, Industry Gallery
- 2013: Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital, Ray Sofa / Permanent Collection - Museum of Arts and Design
- 2014: Ri-conoscere Michelangelo
Solo shows
- 2009: Myths and Rhythms from the new millennium
- 2009: Victory over the Sun
- 2010: NATURE / DATA
- 2011: GATE 150
- 2011: Saracino's Recent Works
- 2011: Antonio Pio Saracino: Unitas Multiplex, a new world
- 2012: Second Nature
- 2012: Nature and Design
- 2012: The Globe installation
- 2012: The Arches of Hopes, installation
- 2013: The City Within, Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall
- 2013: The Guardians: Hero and Superhero, Three Bryant Park, New York City
- 2013: The Guardians: Hero and Superhero, documentary projection, Times Square New York City