Legàmi: A Tribute to Paolo Ciampini

A tribute to engraver Paolo Ciampini

In the medieval village of Palaia, located in the province of Pisa in the heart of the Tuscan Valdera, the Town Hall hosts Legàmi: A Tribute to Paolo Ciampini, an exhibition project dedicated to one of the most refined and original contemporary Italian engravers. The exhibition, promoted by the Municipality of Palaia in collaboration with the Museo della Grafica of Pisa and the artist's family, was created to remember a master who was deeply connected to this territory, where he chose to live, forging intense relationships with the community, students, and colleagues.

Who was Paolo Ciampini

Born in Marti in 1941 and passing away on August 15, 2025, Paolo Ciampini trained at the Cascina Art Institute and the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, where he later taught engraving techniques. His work combined the tradition of the engraved line with extraordinary expressive freedom, featuring large-format works created, according to the Florentine Academy, with a technical virtuosity of disarming naturalness. The title of the exhibition, Legàmi (Bonds), speaks precisely to the threads that connect the artist to the people of Palaia.

Works on display

The exhibition path brings together etchings, engravings, drawings, archival materials, and rarely displayed works, reconstructing Ciampini's entire creative journey from his beginnings to his full artistic maturity. Alongside the artworks, the exhibition gives voice to the community through oral testimonies from the people of Palaia who knew the artist, collected through video interviews, photographs, documents, and audiovisual contributions.

The catalogue and the Foundation

On the occasion of the inauguration, the first official catalogue dedicated to the artist since his passing is presented, featuring critical contributions from six scholars (Ilario Luperini, Andrea Mancini, Alice Tavoni, Elisa Pasini, Gianfranco Tognarelli, and Leonardo Maria Iginetti) for a broad and multidisciplinary reading of his production. The event also highlights the project for the future Paolo Ciampini Foundation, established to enhance and promote his artistic and cultural legacy.

An appointment for the territory

With free admission, Legàmi is much more than a simple retrospective: it is the way Palaia and the Valdera choose to safeguard the memory of an artist who made this corner of Tuscany his home. A precious opportunity to discover the art of engraving and, at the same time, to visit one of the most evocative villages in the province of Pisa.