Biography

Jacopo Scassellati, descendant of a family of Umbrian origin, was born in Sassari in 1989 and still lives there today. From an early age, he showed a strong predisposition for creativity. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather Franco Scassellati, he would wander undisturbed through the maze of his ceramics workshop, playfully manipulating clay and colors, transforming them into works that revealed his precocious talent. Thus, almost as a matter of course, he learned the processes of color reduction and the secrets of ceramic glazes. He studied at the Liceo Ginnasio di Sassari D.A.Azuni, graduating with a classical high school diploma in 2008. During his studies, thanks to a project linked to the preservation of the Sardinian language, he had the opportunity to meet the writer Gavino Ledda. The two struck up a friendship, which led them to produce a new edition of the book Padre padrone and other literary works by Gavino Ledda. In 2012, he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Sassari. He loves to express himself with brushes and colors, but often returns to his beginnings, modeling clay into sculptures that strongly recall tradition and his classical studies. For him, art is a mental process that finds its expression through the manipulation and transformation of matter, researched, studied, and experimented with patience and evident pleasure. His hands, in fact, accompany his every creative process, guided by his experience as an artist-craftsman, starting from the choice of materials to their application on the canvas according to the idea, the result of his impulses, emotions, memories, and academic studies. He even creates the pigments he uses, like an ancient painter, but always in search of something new to experiment with. Hence his continuous and sudden artistic metamorphoses, which make him "a talented young man with a rhythm that no longer exists," as Vittorio Sgarbi said. He participated in the Master's Degree in Sacred Art at San Gabriele dell'Addolorata, in Abruzzo. This experience led him to be selected for several exhibitions of Sacred Art and for the commission of two altarpieces for the Cathedral of Campli (TE), depicting an Annunciation and a Deposition.

Craftsman working on a wooden sculpture in a workshop.

His experience in the field of sacred art has always been a source of great inspiration for the creation of numerous commissioned works for various churches, including several large sculptural groups, such as the baptismal font in the Cathedral of Sant'Antioco, patron saint of Sardinia, the pictorial cycle of the baptismal font in the Church of Sant'Orsola in Sassari, which includes seven large works, and other large works of both painting and sculpture in the Church of the Holy Family in Sassari, including the altar and the pictorial cycle of the altar. Numerous paintings and sculptures can be found in many churches throughout Sardinia. His drawings and works are featured in the pastoral letters and book covers of His Excellency Monsignor Gian Franco Saba, Bishop of Sassari.

His first solo exhibition, in 2008, was entitled Jacopo Giovin pittore (Jacopo Giovin painter) and was held in Spello (Perugia), curated by Paolo Nardon and presented by Vittorio Sgarbi. On that occasion, the art critic showed great interest and admiration for Scassellati's creativity, even comparing him, for his rapid artistic progress, to the great masters of the past, from Parmigianino to Raphael, who reached the peak of their careers in a short time. Fascinated by his art, the critic followed his artistic career and presented his exhibitions on other occasions.

His works are now part of prestigious collections, both private and public. International relations have allowed his art to become known in various parts of the world, not only in Europe, but also in the United States, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

  • Specialization in Painting, Pietro Vannucci Academy of Fine Arts, Perugia (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2014.

  • Advanced training program, Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Liège, Liège, Belgium, 2014.

  • First Level Academic Diploma in Decoration, Academy of Fine Arts "Mario Sironi," Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2012.

  • Master's Degree in Contemporary Sacred Art, Diocesan Museum of Contemporary Art – Castello di Scopoli, Scopoli di Foligno (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2011.

  • Master's Degree in Contemporary Sacred Art, Staurós Museum of Contemporary Sacred Art, San Gabriele dell'Addolorata – Isola del Gran Sasso (TE), Abruzzo, Italy, 2010.

Training

Exhibitions, Awards, and Projects

  • 16th Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Sacred Art, Prophets of Hope, Creators of Beauty, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Staurós San Gabriele Museum, Isola del Gran Sasso (TE), Abruzzo, Italy; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • Monumental sculpture: baptismal font and tabernacle, Parish Church of Cristo Risorto, Porto Torres (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2025.

  • Il miele degli abissi(Honey from the Abyss), solo exhibition, curated by Stefano Resmini, Room X, Castello dei Doria, Castelsardo (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2025.

  • Pediment of the portal, monumental work, Church of the Holy Family, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2025.

  • Chapel of Peace – altarpieces, Sassari Cathedral, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2024.

  • Painting cycle “Verbo Dipinto” (Painted Word), Parish Church of Cristo Risorto, Porto Torres (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2024.

  • Cimitile Award, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Cimitile (NA), Campania, Italy, 2023.

  • Consecration of the altar and dedication of the Church of the Holy Family, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, May 2023.

  • Painting for the Madonna delle Grazie, Church of San Pietro in Silki, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, May 2022.

  • Fragile, solo exhibition, curated by Luigi Perez, Novitas Gallery, Hong Kong, February–May 2021.

  • Portraits of the Rectors, University of Sassari, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2020.

  • Baptism of Christ, monumental work for the baptismal font, Church of Sant'Antioco Martire, Sant'Antioco (CA), Sardinia, Italy, 2020.

  • Philocalia and The Mirror of Narcissus, solo exhibition, curated by Annarita Punzo, directed by Silvia Oppo, Diocesan Museum of Oristano, Oristano (OR), Sardinia, Italy, May–September 2019.

  • Aetherium, solo exhibition, curated by Emanuela Lai, Oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Sansepolcro (AR), Tuscany, Italy, September–October 2018.

  • Aetherium, solo exhibition, curated by Emanuela Lai, Palazzo del Capitolo, Sant’Antioco (CA), Sardinia, Italy, April 2018.

  • Cimitile Award, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Cimitile (NA), Campania, Italy, 2017.

  • In hoc signo, group exhibition, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, Fondazione di Sardegna, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, 2016.

  • The Great Interpreters of Music, solo exhibition with piano performance by Beatrice Rana, Teatro Verdi, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2016.

  • Blue, group exhibition (Jean Arcelin, Steve McCurry, Jacopo Scassellati, Parish Kohanim), Besharat Gallery, Atlanta (GA), United States, July 2016.

  • Broken, solo exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Zichi, Civic Museum – Giuseppe Altana Art Gallery, Ozieri (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2016.

  • Aeterna, solo exhibition, curated by the Geasar staff, Art-Port Gallery, Olbia (OT), Sardinia, Italy, 2016.

  • Fragments of Being – from Sassari to Paris to Atlanta, solo exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Besharat Gallery, Atlanta (GA), United States, 2015–2016.

  • Fragments of Being, solo exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Besharat Gallery, Barbizon, France, 2015.

  • In the sign of Ares. Weapons of war, fragments of peace, exhibition project directed by Gabriella Gasperetti and Giuseppe Zichi, Sanna Museum, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2015.

  • A Young Man for Painting, solo exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, L’Idioma Art Center, Ascoli Piceno (AP), Marche, Italy, 2015.

  • Re-portraits, solo exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Zichi, presented by Aldo Sari, Museo Casa Manno, Alghero (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2014.

  • Pio Alferano Award, solo exhibition In hoc signo, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and Santino Carta, Castello dell’Abate, Castellabate (SA), Campania, Italy, 2014.

  • For the love of ceramics – Exhibition of contemporary ceramic art, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Liceo Artistico Statale F.A. Grue, Castelli (TE), Abruzzo, Italy, 2014.

  • XXI Edgardo Mannucci International Culture Award, collateral solo sculpture exhibition, curated by Stefano Papetti, San Francesco Cultural Center, Arcevia (AN), Marche, Italy, 2014.

  • I choose us, group exhibition, Casa Internazionale delle Donne – Fondazione Paola Decini, Viterbo (VT), Lazio, Italy, 2014.

  • I choose us, group exhibition, Casa Internazionale delle Donne – Fondazione Paola Decini, Rome, Italy, 2014.

  • Chevaux et Cavaliers. Les artistes et le cheval, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Besharat Gallery, Barbizon, France; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós, 2013.

  • XL Sulmona Prize, International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Civic-Diocesan Museum Complex, Sulmona (AQ), Abruzzo, Italy, 2013; catalog.

  • Palio di San Michele Arcangelo, critical presentation by Vittorio Sgarbi, Gualdo Tadino (Perugia), Umbria, Italy, 2013.

  • Il carro degli dei(The Chariot of the Gods), solo exhibition, curated by Catia Monacelli, presented by Vittorio Sgarbi, Polo Museale della Città di Gualdo Tadino, Gualdo Tadino (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2013; catalog L’Arte Grafica.

  • Chevaux et Cavaliers. Les artistes et le cheval, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Fontainebleau Racecourse, France; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós, 2013.

  • Les couleurs de l’âme – Les artistes et le sacré aujourd’hui, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Château du Terral, Saint-Jean-de-Védas, France; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós, 2013.

  • 26th Turin International Book Fair, cover image for L’ultimo sofista (The Last Sophist) by Gianluca Mei, published by Aracne, Lingotto Fiere, Turin (TO), Piedmont, Italy, 2012.

  • Sixth Triennial Exhibition of Contemporary Sacred Art – Exempla. Il Buon Pastore(The Good Shepherd), group exhibition, curated by Toti Carpentieri, Antico Seminario, Lecce (LE), Puglia, Italy, 2012; catalog published by Editrice Salentina.

  • Created to create. Artists and the sacred fifty years after the Second Vatican Council, curated by Giuseppe Bacci and Alessandra Morelli, Palazzo Ex Centro Marziale, Campli (TE), Abruzzo, Italy, 2012; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • 15th Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Sacred Art, From Announcement to Announcement, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Staurós San Gabriele Museum, Isola del Gran Sasso (TE), Abruzzo, Italy, 2011; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • 54th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, The State of the Art. Regions of Italy, Sardinia Pavilion, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy, 2011; Skira catalog.

  • Young artists depict the sacred with Saint Benedict of Norcia, group exhibition, Museo della Castellina, Norcia (PG), Umbria, Italy; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • One hundred artists draw the Madonna, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Museo Casa della Cultura, Onna (AQ), Abruzzo, Italy; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • Educational courses. Young artists depict the sacred with Saint Benedict of Norcia, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Diocesan Museum of Contemporary Art – Castello di Scopoli, Scopoli di Foligno (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2010.

  • Arciere Contemporary Art Award, special mention, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and Santino Carta, Palazzo Pianciani, Spoleto (PG), Umbria, Italy; catalog.

  • One hundred artists draw the Madonna, group exhibition, curated by Giuseppe Bacci, Staurós Museum of Contemporary Sacred Art, San Gabriele (TE), Abruzzo, Italy; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • Humana Passio, collective exhibition of contemporary sacred art, curated by Giuseppe Bacci and Carlo Chenis, Sala Museale Santo Stefano, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; catalog published by Edizioni Staurós.

  • Artists' workshops at Christmas. Nativity scenes in the streets and in San Francesco, guest of honor, Trevi (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2009.

  • The Province and its Candlesticks, presentation of the work I Candelieri: il perché(The Candlesticks: the reason why), work in the permanent collection, Provincial Government Building, Sassari (SS), Sardinia, Italy.

  • Arciere Contemporary Art Award, special recognition, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi and Santino Carta, Island of Sant'Antioco (CA), Sardinia, Italy; catalog.

  • Jacopo Giovin Pittore, solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures, curated by Paolo Nardon, presented by Vittorio Sgarbi and Vittoria Garibaldi, Villa Fidelia, Spello (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2008; catalog.

  • 21st Turin International Book Fair, illustrations for a prestigious box set of works by Gavino Ledda (Padre padrone, Lingua di falce, I cimenti dell’agnello), Carlo Delfino Editore, Lingotto Fiere, Turin (TO), Piedmont, Italy.

  • Painting Competition, special mention, Gualdo Tadino (PG), Umbria, Italy, 2004.