Sculptor, speaker and artist – the versatility of Filip Piccolruaz
The traditional woodcarving craft of Val Gardena has been passed down through the generations and is reinterpreted today with artistic passion.
A workshop, a heritage, a path.
My father, Gebhard Piccolruaz (born 1948), started out as an apprentice under his older brother, Luis Piccolruaz. In his mid-twenties, he made the bold decision to start his own workshop, freeing himself from the publishers who dominated the market at the time. This step gave him the freedom to realise his own artistic visions and market them independently.
In the 1970s, the woodcarving industry in Val Gardena flourished, and our work found its way to many European countries and even America. Demand was high, and the workshop was a vibrant place of creative activity. However, more challenging economic times arrived in the years that followed. But my father was not discouraged. With perseverance, a fine sense of quality and deep roots in tradition, he managed to keep the business going, even if on a smaller scale.
After finishing compulsory school, I followed in his footsteps and began an apprenticeship with him. For many years, we shared a workshop in Ortisei which became a place of exchange, mutual respect, inspiration and artistic and technical excellence. When he retired in 2006, I took over the family business, leading it into a new era as an independent artist with a commitment to combining tradition and innovation.
I feel deep joy and gratitude that our workshop still exists today, a place where important churches have been furnished with figures and sacred elements, and where the tradition of artistic craftsmanship lives on.
The artistic heritage runs deep in my family, too: several renowned sculptors are among my ancestors, including Leopold Moroder (1850–1906), my great-grandfather Vinzenz Moroder Sr. (1889–1980) and my grandfather Vinzenz Moroder Jr. (1922–2015). They made a significant impact, particularly in altar construction, and their works can still be found in numerous churches throughout Sicily and northern Italy, especially in the Verona area.
This deep-rooted connection to art, passed down through the generations, continues to influence my work to this day. Every piece that emerges from my workshop carries a part of that story.
Curriculum Vitae of Artist Filip Piccolruaz from Val Gardena
- born on 2 April 1977 in Bolzano/Bozen
- 1991-1995: he attended the College of Sculpture in Ortisei/St. Ulrich
- 1998: apprenticeship examination
- since 1991: working as a sculptor and artist in his own studio in Ortisei, alongside his father, Helmuth Gebhard
- 2001–2018: teaching at the College of Arts and Crafts in Ortisei (Val Gardena)
- 2012: teaching at the art school “Cademia” in Ortisei (Val Gardena)
- 2012–2013: teaching modelling, casting and sculpture to students at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia)
- 2014: Master Craftsman’s Examination
- 2017: lecturer at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice (subjects: sculpture and casting)
- since 2019: president of the occupational group for arts and crafts in the LVH-APA (trade association for crafts and services)
In parallel:
- Attended many courses, especially on casting and modelling techniques
- Director of several courses (life modelling, portraits and carving)
- Practical experience of handling marble, wood, ceramics, plaster and Perspex
- Voluntary work in numerous associations, e.g. serving as chairman and singer in the Ortisei church choir for several years, as well as singing with the Gherdëina ensemble and the Ortisei youth choir
Filip Piccolruaz, an artist from Val Gardena, is available to speak at modelling and carving courses by request.
The Gardena Valley, located in the heart of the Dolomites (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), has been renowned for its wood carving for many years, long before it was discovered by tourists. This tradition is still maintained in Val Gardena today, and the artists' skill is highly regarded far beyond the borders of South Tyrol.
Piccolruaz, a sculptor who lives in Ortisei/St. Ulrich, continues this tradition with great expertise and passion, gladly passing on his knowledge. He has many years of experience lecturing on art courses and is available to direct courses at art schools, academies, carving schools and other associations. On the carving courses, participants learn to bring an idea to life, creating figures, reliefs or sculptures from wood. On his modelling courses, which focus on life and portrait modelling, Piccolruaz is passionate about sharing his knowledge of the basic principles of modelling, as well as the proportions, expressions and movements of the human figure.
