Elso Sora Biography
Elso Sora was born in Pesaro in 1905 and entered the art world early, starting to work as a ceramist in 1917 at the Molaroni laboratory. Here, under the guidance of authoritative artists including Telesforo Bertozzini and Pietro Turri, Sora developed his first skills in the ceramic field. At the same time as his training, he attended the School of Art and the studio of Fernando Mariotti, one of the most significant representatives of 20th century Pesaro painting.
In 1930, the Molaroni factory closed for economic reasons, but this experience proved decisive for Sora's career, as he was noticed by the architect Giò Ponti who, having admired some of his works exhibited at the Monza Biennale, hired him at Richard Ginori in Sesto Fiorentino. Here Sora worked as a ceramist for seven years, until 1937. Having returned to Pesaro, he had to deal with the loss of his wife and the responsibility of raising his son alone; however he resumed work at the Molaroni factory, becoming its artistic director.
In 1950, he founded the AMA company together with the Nemorino brothers, Vittorio Benvenuti and Franco Ridolfi, one of the most dynamic in the sector of decorated and decorated ceramics according to local traditions. Sora continued to produce his works until the end of his life, standing out for an original and unique style among Pesaro ceramists. His artistic path is characterized by an interest in line, a dominant element in his works, which stands out from the works of Bruno Baratti, another important innovator of Pesaro ceramics, who prefers a more plastic volume.
Sora has developed a strong aptitude for painting, which has led to a symbiosis between his pictorial works and ceramics. Driven by a passion for mythological, allegorical and realistic themes, Sora has transmitted these elements in the creation of plates, panels and sculptures. His technique proves fluid and evident already in the drawings of the 1920-30 decade. His production is characterized by references to Art Deco and Dudovich's graphics, as well as the Urbino School. However, the most significant experience for Sora was the activity at the Richard Ginori factory, where he collaborated with Giò Ponti, one of the most important innovators of contemporary design. This artistic union has allowed Sora to perfect his production and express his creativity in an increasingly original way.
