Professional sculptor and former chef, Giorgio Atzori perfected his first sculpting lessons working alongside his grandfather who managed a quarry in the late 1950s. Since that early beginning, Atzori has been producing creative and unique sculptures for more than 35 years, as well as dabbling in painting. He is very modest and humble about his work, attributing much of his success to mentors, teachers, and his grandfather.
“I was very lucky,” says Atzori. “I got to work with many outstanding mentors and teachers who have helped me along the way. I owe much to their teachings. I was born in Rome, Italy in 1951, and worked in the quarry until urbanization began to slowly take over and encroach on the quarry’s property until it was no more.” The quarry was situated near the first Roman highway which went from Rome to the sea port coastal town of Brindisi. A part of that road still exists today and on it has been built the Park of the Appia Antica, which includes the first 16 Km of the ancient consular road.
“As soon as I came to The United States I enrolled in the National Academy of Arts,” explains Atzori. He recalls attending the duCret School of the Arts in New Jersey where he was mentored by Furman Finck, its former Dean, as well as Boris Blei, a former student of famous French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. Finck was a painting teacher at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. and his painting also influenced Atzori.
“I majored in contemporary art with an exploration of the modern concept,” says Atzori, adding that he trained as a classical sculptor interested in both liturgical themes and the human figure. His formal training also includes work at the Istituto dell’Arte di Deruta (The Insitute of Art) in Deruta, Italy. The sculptor also remarked that his training as a classical sculptor continued under the mentorship and tutoring of Donald Lu, a teacher who worked for the Kennedy family and sculpted many pieces representing Normandy Beach. Lu also taught Atzori how to add painting to his repertoire of creative skills and achievements.
In addition to being an accomplished artist, Atzori is also an expert mold maker and was commissioned to create the original molds for the 2002 Memoria Project, in Highlands, New Jersey. This project was a marble and granite monument created to pay national tribute to the victims and survivors of the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001. It consists of two marble pillars, one female with tremendous weight bearing down on her; the other, a male stretches toward freedom.
“We are especially drawn to the sensitive and meditative connection between the magnificent Crucified Lord by Giorgio Atzori dominating the sanctuary, and the exquisite , strong ark-like tabernacle positioned also in the sanctuary, behind the crucifix,” writes Mary Donohue of the church’s newsletter.
“I enjoyed doing that piece, says Atzori, “liturgical sculptures are part of my background and interest.” The sculptor is currently working on a private religious commission, one of several he has been asked to do relating to his muse in religion motifs.
“May 21st was the celebration of the birth of Rome,” said Atzori, who is working on a personal sculpture of Rome’s Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers and central characters of Rome’s foundation myth. Several of his sculptures can be viewed in San Diego’s Little Italy, the location of Sogno di Vino, where Atorzi still works in the kitchen. These are predominantly displayed on the restaurant’s bar, amongst wine bottles and in a corner niche.
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