Andrea Cagnetti, also known in the artistic world as Akelo (Corchiano – Viterbo, 16 March 1967) is an Italian goldsmith, designer, and sculptor. He is known for dedicating himself to the research of the ancient techniques used in metalworking.
BIOGRAPHY
After having obtained a diploma at the Ronciglione State secondary school with a concentration in scientific studies, Akelo transferred to Rome, where for several years he worked as a graphic artist while continuing to pursue his in-depth studies of texts and documents relating to ancient goldsmithing, metallurgy, and alchemy.
Combining this theoretical understanding with extensive experimentation on materials and techniques, the artist now entirely devotes himself to creating gold objects and to making sculptural objects out of gold, bronze, and iron, using the artistic name of Akelo (from Achelous, Greek god of the waters).
In 2010 the artist created the bronze sculpture "Hope" for the Robert Bresson Prize given every years at the Venice Film Festival.
The works of Andrea Cagnetti have been exhibited in many national and international exhibitions, and have caused a sensation in the media throughout the world. In fact, numerous publications, reviews and television appearances have been dedicated to him, which highlight not only his talent and his stylistic originality, but also the value of his research.
In the last few years, some of his pieces have been acquired by important museums and private collections.
Andrea Cagnetti lives in Corchiano, where he also writes scientific articles on the techniques used in ancient goldsmith.
WORKS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
HOEDUS II (1996) Pendente - Newark Museum
YILDUN (2001) Pendente - Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri
CHORT (2002) Pendente - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
DENHEB (2004) Collana - Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri
SEGIN (2009) Pisside - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
STRANGE MECHANISM #3 (2010) Scultura - Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Akelo: Golden Works 1994-2000" - G. Spinola/P. d’Ambrosio - Saatchi & Saatchi/Lupetti Editore (2004) ISBN 8883911075, 9788883911071
"Etruschi, scoperto il segreto dei loro gioielli" – Corriere della sera (2000)
A. Cagnetti. (2009) "Experimental survey on fluid brazing in ancient goldsmith's art" – International Journal of Material Research DOI 10.3139/146.101783
”The Voyage of a Contemporary Italian Goldsmith in the Classical World: Golden Treasures of Akelo” - Mary Pixley - Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri (2010) ISBN 0910501408, 9780910501408
"Gioiello Italiano Contemporaneo" - Skyra - Rizzoli International (2007)
"Akelo’s Treasures - An Exhibition Celebrating 25 Years Of A Roman Master Goldsmith" - Bentley & Skinner, London (2011)
"Materia Nova" - Galerie Ludwig Trossaert, Contemporary art (2012) ISBN 9789491314124 - D/2012/12.184/07
MAIN EXHIBITIONS
"Materia Nova" - Galerie Ludwig Trossaert, Contemporary art - Anversa, Belgio (18 Maggio – 6 Giugno 2012)
"Collecting for a New Century: Recent Acquisition" - Museum of Art And Archaeology, University of Missouri - Columbia, MO - U.S.A (28 Gennaio - 13 Maggio 2012)
"Akelo's Treasures. An Exhibition Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of a Roman Master Goldsmith" - Bentley & Skinner (Bond Street Jewellers) Ltd - Londra, Regno Unito (Novembre, 2011)
”Golden Treasures by Akelo” - Museum of the Gemological Institute of America - Carlsbad, California, U.S.A. (Ottobre 2010 - Marzo 2011)
"The Voyage of a Contemporary Italian Goldsmith in the Classical World: Golden Treasures by Akelo" - Museum of Art And Archaeology, University of Missouri - Columbia, MO - U.S.A (5 Giugno - 26 Settembre, 2010)
"Gioiello Italiano Contemporaneo" - Castello Sforzesco, Milano / Palazzo Valmarana Braga, Vicenza / Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlino / Museo di arti decorative Pietro Accorsi, Torino (Gennaio 2008 – Gennaio 2009)
"In Its Time: Materials and Techniques Throughout Jewelry History" - Aaron Faber Gallery - New York, U.S.A. (2009)
"Akelo: risplende l'oro degli Etruschi" - Vicenzaoro2, Fiera di Vicenza - Vicenza, Italia (Giugno 2005)
"The Hanover World Exposition 2000" - Italian Pavillon - Hannover, Germania (Giugno – Ottobre 2000)
REFERENCES
"Una scultura di Akelo nel museo dell'Università del Missouri" ADNKronos (Italy) - April 2012
"A Sculpture by the Italian Artist Akelo in the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the University of Missouri" Artwallzine - (U.K.) April 2012
"Museum exhibit highlights the splendor of collecting" - The Columbia Daily Tribune (U.S.A) - March, 2012
"Timeless Gold" - Vogue (Italy) - October, 2011
"Great Designers" - World Gold Council - 2011
"The Midas Touch" - The Mayfair Magazine (U.K.) - November, 2011
"Granulation Rediscovered" - Antiques Trade Gazette (U.K.) - November, 2011
"Una Mostra per i 25 anni di Akelo" - 18 Karati (Italy) - November 2011
"Bentley and Skinner hosts Akelo show" - The Jeweller Magazine (U.K.) - October, 2011
"Bentley & Skinner to host Akelo retrospective" - Professional Jeweller (U.K.) - October, 2011
"Akelo festeggia i 25 anni di attività da Bentley & Skinner" - Preziosa Magazine (Italy) - October, 2011
"Un etrusco a London" - Vioromagazine (Italy) - October, 2011
"Bentley & Skinner to host celebration of Akelo’s 25 years" - Jewellery World Review (Thailand) - September, 2011
"Bentley & Skinner to exhibit works of Andrea Cagnetti" - Diamond World (China) - September, 2011
"Breathing new life into an age old technique" - The malta Indipendent (Malta) - September, 2011
"A Pendant by the Italian Artist Akelo in the Permanent Collection of the Newark Museum" - The Benchpeg (U.K.) - April, 2011
"Les bijoux étrusques d'Akelo" - Guide Bijoux (France) - April, 2011
"Italian Artist’s Pendant acquired by Newark Museum" - JewelleryNetAsia (China) - March, 2011
"Modern Artist Brings Ancient Techniques to Life" - GIA Insider (U.S.A.) - December, 2010
"Masterpieces by Akelo" - Solitaire International (India) - October, 2010
"Echi etruschi di Akelo" - 18 Karati (Italy) - August, 2010
" Museums acquire two Akelo Pieces " - International Jewellery Couture. Europa Star - September, 2010
"Golden Treasures by Akelo"
"Golden Treasures Exhibit" - Rock&Gem (U.S.A.) - June, 2010
"An artist’s golden touch" - The Columbia Daily Tribune (U.S.A) - May, 2010
"Exhibition to feature gold jewellery inspired by ancient Etruscans" - Gold Bullettin (U.S.A.) - April, 2010
"Etruscan-inspired gold exhibit sets sail for U.S." - National Jeweler (U.S.A.) - April, 2010
"Golden Treasures by Akelo" - Museum Magazine - MAA University of Missouri (U.S.A.) - January, 2010
"L’alchimista-orafo che fa rivivere i gioielli etruschi" - Di Tutto (Italy) - December, 2009
"Museu de Belas Artes de Boston (EAU) recebe peça do Joalheiro Andrea Cagnetti" - Infojoia (Brazil) - January, 2009
"Museum Of Fine Arts Receives Gift Of Cagnetti Pendant" - Art Knowledge News - April, 2008
"A touch of gold: Andrea Cagnetti explores the Etruscan enigma - Golden secret of Etruscan" - Dollhouse Miniatures (U.S.A./U.K.) - March/April, 2008
"Andrea Cagnetti. Moderno alchimista" - Allure (Italy) - March, 2008
"Akelo: Contemporary Master in Ancient Goldsmithing Techniques" - Adornment, The Magazine of Jewlery and Relates Arts (U.S.A.) - Winter, 2007
"Gild trip" - Solitaire (Singapore) - August/September, 2006
"Joias primordiais" - Joia & Cia (Brasil) - July, 2006
"Andrea Cagnetti fait reviver l’or des Etrusques" - Heure (Switzerland) - June/July, 2006
"Akelo: Master of granulation" - Jewellery World Review Magazine (Thailand) - June, 2006
"Granulieren - Altes Verfahren wiederentdeckt, Etruskische Kunstfertigkeit erlebt Renaissance durch Akelo" - GZ Goldschmiede Zeitung (Germany) - January, 2006
"A Journey in the Historical Discoveries" - Al-Jawhara Magazine (Kuwait) - August, 2005
"The fruit of ancient goldsmith art" - World of Gold, Jewelry and Watches (Thailand) - Summer, 2005
"L’etrusco ritrovato" - Vioro, Vicenzaoro International Magazine (Italy) - June, 2005
"Etruskiska guldsmeders hemlighet avslöjad" - Illustrerad Vetenskap (Denmark) - June, 2001
"Granulation: the perfection of the Etruscans" - Gold Magazine Europe (Italy) - January, 2001
"Secret of Etruscan Jewels Uncovered" - Discovery (U.S.A) - December, 2000
"Megfejtették az etruszk aranymuvesség titkàt" - Elet et Tudomany (Hungary) - December, 2000
"Ho rubato agli Etruschi la formula segreta dell’oro" - Oggi (Italy) - November, 2000
"Svelato il segreto dei gioielli etruschi" - Corriere di Viterbo (Italy) - October, 2000
"Culture: The Etruscans - After 25 centuries their gold mystery technique is discovered" - AdnKronos (Italy) - October, 2000
"Etruschi, scoperto il segreto dei loro gioielli" - Corriere della sera (2000)
TELEVISION APPEARANCES
"Sulle tracce degli Etruschi" - Ulisse, il piacere della scoperta - RAI 3 (Italy)
"I tesori del Vaticano" - Ulisse, il piacere della scoperta - RAI 3 (Italy)
"Le meraviglie del British Museum" - Ulisse, il piacere della scoperta - RAI 3 (Italy)
"Der Schmuck der Etrusker" - Abenteuer Erde - HR Hessischer Rundfunk (Germany)
"Unomattina" - RAI 1 (Italy)
"Taccuino Italiano" - RAI International (Italy)
"Destinos” - CNN en espanol
"Mediterraneo" - RAI 2 (Italy) - FRANCE 3 (France) - CANAL ALGERIE (Algeria) - ERT/ET 1 (Greece)
"Style" - MBC (Middle East)
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