THE WINNERS OF
THE ROMETTI AWARD
2026

The future of ceramics takes shape in Umbertide. On Saturday, 10 October, the closing ceremony of the fourteenth edition of the Rometti Award took place at the Rometti manufactory, a competition that has long brought together artisanal tradition and the visions of a new generation of designers.

First prize was awarded to Elena Pietrini, from the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, for Bilico, selected from more than one hundred projects submitted by students from international academies and universities. Second prize went to Àfrica González I Mateu, a student at ESAD in Portugal, for the mirror You, Liquen. Third place resulted in an unprecedented tie, recognising Maria Vittoria Martinoli for the set Urlo Silente and Alexandra Mitu for the coffee table Maratea, both students at NID in Perugia. Following an initial selection, the six finalists spent a week at the Umbertide manufactory in July, working closely with its artisans and exploring techniques, materials and expertise developed over almost a century of history. It is in this transition from idea to object that the Prize expresses its distinctive identity: offering young designers the opportunity to experiment, engage directly with the material and transform their research into tangible forms. “We appreciated the joy and enthusiasm with which the students approached ceramics, their curiosity in working hands-on with the material, and the commitment with which they transformed their ideas into real objects,” commented CEO Massimo Monini and artistic director Jean-Christophe Clair. “It is precisely this direct engagement with the act of making that makes the Prize an authentic experience.” A value renewed with every edition, reaffirming the competition’s mission to foster a genuine exchange between emerging talent and a manufactory with a rich history. This dialogue takes on particular significance this year: the winners and finalists will be the last names to enter the Rometti Prize’s Hall of Fame, which will be published in the volume ROMETTI 100, due out in early 2027 with Officina Libraria. The book will celebrate the manufactory’s centenary through contributions by curator Nicoletta Giannoni, a historical profile by Lorenzo Fiorucci, and photographs by Monica Spezia. A milestone that looks back to the roots of a story begun in 1927, but above all towards the future. For Rometti, continuity lies in its ability to keep the dialogue between memory and experimentation, craftsmanship and research, tradition and innovation alive—and in giving new generations the opportunity to write its next chapter.