THE NERO FRATTA
CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
PRESENTS
ROMETTI: A STORY
IN 5 VOICES

As we move toward the centenary of the Rometti manufactory, the Nero Fratta Cultural Association renews its commitment to promoting the ceramic culture of Umbertide through this artistic project. For years, the Association has supported and developed initiatives dedicated to preserving and evolving this unique heritage, helping to sustain a vibrant dialogue between territory, craftsmanship, and contemporary artistic research. The exhibition unfolds as a collective narrative across time, giving voice to five key figures who have profoundly shaped the identity of the manufactory. The journey begins with Corrado Cagli, who arrived in Umbertide in 1929, marking—together with Dante Baldelli—the beginning of the so-called “heroic period.” It was during this time that Rometti’s distinctive language emerged: the iconic polychrome bands, the glossy black surfaces of Nero Fratta, and a bold graphic approach that redefined ceramic aesthetics. While Cagli is known for his free, painterly style, Baldelli developed a recognizable visual grammar that would influence generations to come and remain a defining thread throughout the twentieth century. The narrative continues with Ambrogio Pozzi, who in the 1990s introduced a new design-driven phase. For the first time, a pure designer became a stable presence within the manufactory, bringing a refined and contemporary formal research. His work, culminating in the monumental Venere (2009), represents a pivotal moment, symbolically opening a new chapter in the company’s history. This vision continues in the collaboration with Ugo La Pietra, a central figure in contemporary Italian design. Since 2018, his work with the manufactory has reinterpreted the relationship between artist and place: it is the genius loci of Umbertide that guides creation. His works—from column sculptures to the iconic hands—reinterpret Rometti’s historical codes, reviving elements such as Baldelli’s chiasmus and transforming them into contemporary symbols. The journey concludes with the international perspective of Jean-Christophe Clair, artistic director since 2012 and a key figure in the manufactory’s global revival. Under his direction, Rometti has engaged with leading names in design and luxury, creating collections that do not simply reference tradition, but reinterpret it through a contemporary lens, projecting it into new scenarios. Through historical works, archival materials, and new collections, the exhibition presents a layered narrative in which memory and innovation coexist in balance. The curatorial path, designed by Lorenzo Fiorucci, gives voice to the materials, gestures, and visions that define the manufactory. We invite you to discover this journey into Umbrian ceramic culture—an experience that weaves together past and future, roots and experimentation, in a continuous dialogue that defines the very identity of Rometti. Ceramiche Rometti_Via Canavelle 5, Umbertide (PG) _Exhibition space – 1st floor. Open Monday to Friday_Hours: 9:00–12:00 / 15:00–17:00