DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: OSCAR PICCOLO
Written by Monica Mendal
For Sicilian-born artist and designer Oscar Piccolo, the home has always been about the objects. Piccolo moved several times, relocating with his family to Ghana, Turkey, Egypt, and Libya until he finally settled down between London and Palermo, where he’s lived for much of his adult life.
Objects for Piccolo are more than material items; they are a staple of stability that gives meaning and makes them feel at home. His family would bring along the same dining table, sofa, and bedroom furniture with every move. These pieces became anchors that provided him and his family a sense of comfort and belonging amidst transitions.
It is these memories, moving objects from place to place, that have inspired Piccolo’s work as an artist. He designs home objects that infuse both design and functionality. His most famous object is his signature Lampada Cappello, a pleated lampshade that comes in various colors with a squiggly base. Piccolo also designs furniture and ceramics, as well as architectural compositions. Below, we sat down with Oscar himself to learn what else inspires him.
Portrait of Oscar Piccolo by Camillo Belli
How has your migratory upbringing inspired you as an artist?
Growing up moving from country to country, one house to another, my parents created stability for my sister and me through objects; I always had the same dining table, sofa, and bedroom everywhere I went. I feel this has influenced my love for objects and their sculptural significance. They define my notion of home. From a material point of view, I grew up around raw, natural things like wood, stone, and earth, which have inspired me. While I have a certain curiosity about these materials, there also seems to be a familiarity I can’t seem to find elsewhere. They feel safe and comfortable as they’re part of my childhood.
What inspired you to begin designing lamps?
I’ve always been intrigued by the notion of light and its relation to shadows. Lampada Cappello was inspired by a pleated hat/ old lampshade I found. The balance between its handcrafted Sicilian Iron base and the subtle lightness of the pleated lampshade is something really important to me. Its sculptural quality matters to me most, being an object that might be switched off as much, or more than it is turned on.
Where do you go for inspiration for your lamps?
Most of the inspirations surrounding my work and Lampada Cappello have deep roots in my childhood. There is always a sense of nostalgia there, I feel. One of the colors I will be introducing in June is Arancio Lia and is named after my grandmother Lia who gifted me an orange watch when she came to see me in Egypt. I was 12 years old. These kinds of memories, as well as objects from my past, inspire me.
What is the importance of light in relation to the home?
I feel light is one of the most important things when it comes to a home. I remember the first night in each of the houses I have lived in, as it’s the first time you see how shadows interact with the space you have moved into. A subtle light shines in from a lamp post outside my window where I currently live, which now gives me comfort. I find familiarising with light really special.
What else makes a home feel like a home to you?
Since I moved around a lot throughout my childhood, my idea of home is defined by objects rather than a particular space; a wooden fruit bowl, a chair, a book, the plates my mom passed on to me that we used to use in Istanbul. These kinds of objects are my home.
How has travel inspired your work?
I have grown up traveling from one place to another. While I am incredibly grateful for this as it has allowed me to meet different cultures, it has also given me a sense of uneasiness now that I have settled down in London. This period is the longest I have lived in a place, and while I feel at home, that uneasiness finds its way to step in, suggesting it might be time to continue moving.
You also design sculptures. What do they represent to you?
Ever since I was a child, I was always intrigued by putting things together, adding to them, and breaking them down; there is a certain playfulness to the process that allows me to explore materiality. At university, especially being part of a Fine Art course, there was a lot of pressure in making sure there was a distinct line between artwork and design product. For me, the two go hand in hand and, at times, can be the same thing. If something is a piece of art, it doesn’t necessarily mean it cannot be a design product. Lampada Cappello, for me, is as much of a sculptural object as it is a lamp, for example.
What has the slower pace of this year taught you?
In a way, it has taught me to take a step back and focus on myself as a person rather than a maker; I feel the two should walk hand in hand, and the pause this year has helped me understand how important it is to check up on yourself and make sure you’re okay.
Where are you excited to travel to next?
I will be going to Vulcano in the summer, an island just off of Sicily, which I am extremely excited about. I’ve also wanted to go back to New York; the last time I went was with my dad when I was 14. I’d love to see it with today’s eyes.