La Grande Odalisque, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

Daniele Fortuna Artistic Inspiration & Process

Italian artist Daniele Fortuna draws inspiration from Italy’s extraordinary artistic heritage. Growing up surrounded by centuries of historical art, he became fascinated, and at times frustrated by the idea that these masterpieces, although visually accessible, often remain physically untouchable. Fortuna responds by creating sculptures that invite a different sensory experience. Their layered surfaces may appear almost 3D-printed, yet each work is meticulously handcrafted. He begins with a drawing, then individually cuts multiple layers of wood, sands and assembles them with screws, fills and refines the spaces between the layers with plaster, and finally paints the sculpture by hand.

The resulting works transform familiar references to classical art into contemporary, tactile objects. Texture becomes part of the experience, inviting viewers not only to look at art, but to imagine touching and physically connecting with it.