Inside the World of Sicilian Ceramic Art
“Meet the Makers” is our portrait series celebrating the Italian creators and artisans behind Irene Forte Skincare, as well as those Irene admires for their creativity, precision, and shared devotion to craftsmanship. Each maker inspires us through their commitment to beauty, intention, and detail.
This month, we travel to Sicily to meet Gurreri Antonino, a ceramicist who handcrafts display pieces for our spas and retail spaces. For Antonino, inspiration is rooted in love, family, and the world around him. Each creation is shaped by hand and imbued with the subtle beauty of imperfection - a reminder that true craftsmanship is never mechanical, but always human.
Just as Irene Forte Skincare unites nature and science, Antonino sees the same balance in his own craft: clay drawn from the earth, transformed by the science of oxides in the kiln into lasting works of art.
Inside the World of Antonino Gurreri
What does craftsmanship mean to you?
An artisan makes unique pieces, even in the small imperfections, you can see the difference - you can tell it's handmade.
Who or what has been your strongest source of inspiration throughout your career?
Inspiration comes from all over: from love, from family, from the people you meet, even from music... and from there, I make the ideas my own and turn them into works of art.
Can you describe your collaboration with Irene Forte?
I design and hand-create the bowls and display materials used in our spas and retail spaces, each one highlighting the authentic ingredients at the heart of the skincare.
What do you have in common with Irene Forte?
What Irene Forte and I have in common is that we both work with nature and science. For me, nature is clay, and science is the oxides that mix in the kiln and create these beautiful creations.
Watch the full video here.
