Ornella Cardillo

Ornella Cardillo’s (Modena, 1993) work spans sculpture and performance, incorporating influences and ideas from the worlds of design, fashion, puppetry, and folklore. A graduate in Visual Arts and Fashion from the IUAV University of Venice, her artistic practice is rooted in handcrafted techniques and utilizes a wide range of materials—including metals, glass, wood, plaster, and textiles—assembled into anthropomorphic silhouettes, geometric patterns, or elaborate self-supporting structures. Drawing inspiration from urban architecture and theatrical sets, her creations are inclined toward movement, activated by specialized mechanical components or through their integration into performative acts. The result is a choreography of forms that embodies, on the one hand, the solemnity of archaic rituals and, on the other, the irreverent energy of carnival celebrations—capable of transforming space, roles, and boundaries. Her work was exhibited at the Berengo Foundation in Venice as part of Glasstress in 2024 and 2026.

text by Sara Boggio