Norman Pirollo discovered his passion for working with wood as a young boy, carving alongside his father in his workshop. Pirollo’s father immigrated to Canada in 1927 from Caserta, Campania and his mother is from Calabria. An educated business owner, Pirollo’s father was always drawn to hand work. Like his father, Pirollo is now following his passion as a craftsman. Having pursued a career in the IT industry, he has since studied cabinetmaking, and now dedicates his life to creating unique sculptural pieces and Wood Art, as well as striking studio furniture.
Pirollo’s transition from the high-tech world to the sphere of the arts was a challenging, but gratifying one. “I did this to satisfy the need in me to be creative, to develop a voice, and to live a different more tranquil lifestyle. I must immerse myself in my work completely, in a quiet and serene environment,” he says. He also believes his Italian background has inspired his sense of passion. “Italy, a premier center for arts and design, is an art lover’s paradise. No other country in the world has such a rich heritage of artistic creativity. I’m proud to be Italian.”
Pirollo currently works and resides in his studio in a country setting on the outskirts of Ottawa where he has founded Redifined Edge Design which essentially acts as a one man show. His patience and attention to detail allow him to dedicate himself to one piece at a time, making each one unique.
Inspirational Furniture, Sculpture and Wood
Art Pirollo’s design inspirations root back to the aesthetics of the Art Moderne period comprising Art Deco styling. The design elements and styles of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, which introduced clean curved lines, also influenced his work which can be characterized by contemporary variations on these periods.
A large portion of Pirollo’s work is performed with hand tools, taking you far beyond the bounds of mass production. His designs combine both rectilinear and curvilinear components that draw inspiration from the organic shapes of natural elements.
He privileges exotic woods in his work for their stunning colours and graphics using the complex spirals and whorls that only nature can provide. The colour and patina of the woods allow the purity of the design to shine through.
Norman Pirollo’s innovative approach to creating distinct pieces of art with wood is always evolving. Using traditional and modern techniques, the Bow tie and Wish bone tables as well as the Genesis sculpture incorporate mixed media techniques, in this case metal and different varieties of wood. Glass and stone are also combined in his works.
His focus on solid wood pieces with hand tooled surfaces offers both tactile and visual pleasure. The sculptures from his Wood Art collection lend a beautiful aesthetic appeal as well as contemporary and organic statements to any space. Mixed wood varieties are consolidated, creating abstract shapes with deep texture and movement. The emphasis is put on the wood grain itself, depicting an image or telling a story, while celebrating wood’s implicit beauty.
With over sixteen years of woodworking expertise, this self-taught decorative artist and certified cabinetmaker has devoted himself to creating uniquely designed contemporary pieces involving classic construction and craftsmanship, built to last several lifetimes.
Very active in the art world, Pirollo often gives seminars and presentations, and will be teaching a workshop on furniture design this fall at the Ottawa School of Art. His Wood Art will be displayed in a summer long exhibit at the Ottawa AOE Gallery from May 30th to August 26th.
