Ambassador of Two Worlds, Cosimo Pizzulli: Designer and Visionary

With such a deep passion for both Italian culture and U.S innovation, Italian-American Cosimo Pizzulli has definitely left his mark in both worlds.  A sculptor, interior designer, and innovator himself, Cosimo has become the head of an architectural firm that combines the classical flavor of Italian art with the modern technology of the contemporary U.S.

Growing up in Italy and in the United States has given Cosimo the opportunities that many others have only dreamt of.  He gives all of the credit to his grandfather, who was bold enough to move from the small town of Puglia, Italy, to the United States with nothing but a small suitcase full of hopes and dreams for his family. Raised in Brooklyn, Cosimo then moved back to Taranto with his family for six years.

There he rediscovered his Italian background and culture, and reconnected with his family roots and his Italian identity.  He also discovered his passion for art, and Renaissance influence in design and sculpture.

After receiving his college degree in the U.S, he moved back to Italy and worked with famous architect, Anna Castelli Ferrieri.  During his stay in Milan, Cosimo learned new skills and furthered his knowledge in Italian architecture and design. He, then, returned to America, Los Angeles and San Francisco, where he was in high demand due to his experience working for Ms. Castelli and other global ambassadors.

Cosimo calls himself a “modern-day Renaissance man”, a lover for the simple beauty in sculpture and architecture that brings perspectives from the old world into the new world and combines them both together to create a new art form.

We lived in a very tight Italian community in Taranto. I had forgotten my English and American background, so coming back from living in Italy was a challenge, and it was very difficult to refocus as a young person.  Fortunately, our family always ate together, aunts and uncles and every one ate together every night. My father then had a new job opportunity in Santa Barbara, and that is when I was first introduced to California. I was a senior in high school at the time, but was college-educated back in New York.

California has no true historical roots in terms of architecture and industry, in comparison to places like New York.  It was important for me to come to California and bring this sense of industry and design, where there is more conceptual space that is open to more interpretations and expressions. I, sort of, have become a “bridge” to make a connection that people can identify with.

Anna Castelli and I worked on innovations of modern design and post-WWII design, and Italy was undergoing modernization and industrialization. In Italy, there is very good sense of time in terms of classical design and contemporary design. It gets refined over the decades by people that work on this sort of blending, which is what I work on.  All designers from the studio of Anna Castelli composed of representatives from different countries all over the world: Chile, Japan, China, Holland, Russia, Italy, and the only American was myself.  We would all hand-made prototypes in the factory, eat lunch together, and sit and talk in places along the countryside.

While in Milan, I was also introduced to the fashion world, where I was able to use my drawing skills to sketch photo shoots and clothing models. I was very excited with all the opportunities and the great depth of experiences I was receiving during this time.  I left with such a richness of history, culture, materials and knowledge that led me to find jobs in the US, with pay that was double my salary in Milan.

Sculpture, design, and visual arts.  I love using my hands, so winemaking will always be one of my passions as well.  While it is one of my hobbies, winemaking kind of turned into a business for me too.  I produce it the same way my grandfather produced it, 100% natural: you take the grapes from the vineyard; you stem them, crush them, ferment them, bottle it and drink it. Nothing else is added, no chemicals or sulfates. I am only repeating a classical tradition.

If my grandfather had never made that trip from Puglia to the U.S., I would never be the man I am now. I plan to go back to Puglia and revisit such a town with simplicity in architecture and beautiful agricultural lands. The town creates a blend of modern day technology with something really old.  I live in this world (US), but I can always go back to that world and live in there… for a moment. That to me is very interesting.