Welcome to my creative world where clay is passion, art, and is transformed by the union of Earth, Water, Fire and Air. My creations are inspired by nature that teaches us not to rush and to listen to the silence.

Rossana Riboldi, born in 1966, originally from Cassina Amata, a hamlet of Paderno Dugnano (Milan), i live in Gattico-Veruno for several years, near Lakes Maggiore and Orta, where I enjoy working with clay in my Atelier RoxArt ArteCotta. I've always been fascinated by the world of ceramics, I started for fun and I calling myself an artist by chance. A lover of nature and what it offers to humankind, I'm also fascinated by the world of ceramics, a material born and transformed from the union of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.

I've done something completely different in life (a notary clerk, with satisfaction) and have always had a calling for manual work; I never attended art schools or studios, but my passion for clay led me to read books and delve into working techniques by taking several courses (in addition to dedicating hours and hours to it), including Raku, an ancient Japanese technique from the 16th century that I love dearly. Its meaning is "pleasantness, joy, harmony," and the final result of the piece is surprising, "the beauty of imperfection."

The piece undergoes a severe thermal shock. The first firing is at 980° and then, after glazing, a second firing takes place in a special gas kiln where the temperature quickly rises to 900–940°. The object is then placed in bins containing paper, sawdust, and leaves, which burn in contact with the incandescent pieces, reducing the oxygen content. Finally, it is immersed in water and cleaned. For Naked Raku, the process is the same, but a release agent is applied before glazing. The smoke passes through the cracks that form during rapid cooling, leaving blackened areas on the surface of the piece.

The soul of Raku is the contact with the elements of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. The final effect is unpredictable, and it's the small imperfections that make each object unique, handcrafted, and original. The initial firings of the pieces I create take place in my solar-powered kiln, while for the Raku firings, I rely on the skill of two artist friends, Giovanni Crippa and Livio Rossetti, whom I was fortunate enough to meet along the way, with whom I share moments of joy and wonder. I'm also exploring stoneware (high temperature).

Continuing to experiment with passion and curiosity is what fascinates me most, both in art and in life.