Saint Cloche proudly presents Centauro, the second solo exhibition at the gallery by Luca Lettieri, an innovative multi-disciplinary artist based in Peramangk (Strathalbyn), South Australia.

With Centauro, Lettieri continues his exploration of duality, inspired by Primo Levi’s idea of humans as “centaurs” - creatures of two distinct halves.

Centauro

“I’m fascinated by the tension between opposites in my life and work: form versus function, the pull of tradition alongside the need for creative freedom. This show lets me delve into these contrasts and the connections that bind them.”

Lettieri’s journey has taken him from training at the Sturt Craft Centre and JamFactory’s esteemed Furniture Associate Program to Italy, where an Italian Australian Federation Fellowship allowed him to deepen his study of traditional craft techniques, including violin making and bronze casting. His work has been featured in leading exhibitions, including Materiality at Praxis Artspace and All In at Saint Cloche in 2023.

In Centauro, Lettieri draws from Southern Italian folk traditions of creating effigies for village saints, symbolic offerings made in hopes of healing. He reimagines these forms in abstract anatomical sculptures - eyes, hearts, lungs - as a modern exploration of self. Using materials like chains and natural stone, Lettieri balances geometric precision with raw, organic textures, capturing both strength and vulnerability.

“Each piece is a form of self-portraiture, an attempt to reconcile different parts of myself and my craft,”

Marked by his refined yet experimental use of color and texture, Centauro brings opposing elements into conversation, inviting viewers to reflect on the dualities within themselves.

Luca Lettieri’s Centauro reaffirms his standing in contemporary art as he continues to bridge craft and fine art, tradition and innovation.