Biography

Fabio Pilato (1964), after studying economics, approaches the art of iron in a completely unconscious way, without ever going to anyone’s shop. Author of works exhibited in Italy and abroad, he lives and works in Messina.

As part of the “Christmas of the Angels” event, he oversees the creation of the sculpture entitled The Angel’s Passage designed by Filippo De Mariano, commissioned by the Municipality of Messina.

Fabio Pilato in profile in a darkened room, bare-chested and wearing a heavy gold chain, turning a blacksmith’s hammer over in his hands.

He creates the furnishings for the pedestrian area in Via dei Mille on the theme “Christmas in Vienna style” (45 large-format chandeliers and 96 stylized iron amphorae for the Mille Vetrine association).

The international of blacksmiths in San Marco d’Alunzio wins with the work the Flamingo.
He participates in the world championship in Stia (Province of Arezzo) by creating ex-tempore the work From the opposite finger to the bionic hand, receiving critical appreciation and being published in the prestigious international specialized magazine “Hephaistos”.

As part of the “Night of Culture” event in Messina, he organized, as communications officer of the “Blacksmiths of Art” Association, a forging performance with top-level master smiths.
From the involvement in a conference at the University of Messina, the idea for Lucida follia was born, a work that represents the torment of migrants, already exhibited at the Palacultura di Messina on the occasion of the “a mare si play” event with special guests Tony Canto and Nino Frassica (Arturo Morano).

At the castle of Milazzo he created installation 366, a work that raises awareness of the drama of the migrants who land on our shores every day (“three hundred and sixty-six fish swimming free without colliding with barriers or walls”, in memory of the dead at sea on 04.10. 2013 off the coast of Lampedusa).

Commissioned by the municipalities of the island of Salina, designed by the architects Faranna and La Spina, he created L ’ombra del Postino, a tribute to Massimo Troisi (commemorative work 20 years after his death, with exceptional godmother Mariagrazia Cucinotta).

Together with other artists (Associazione Fabbri d’Arte), he creates – among others – the work Alea iacta est (the die is cast) still exhibited in a public square in Savignano sul Rubicone.

With the Associazione Fabbri d’Arte, again, he created – personally taking care of the designs and the project – The Pietà by Bruto Pomodoro displayed in front of Palazzo Marziani in Furnari;
For the Rotary & Rotaract of Messina, he is the creator and author (together with Arch.

Dario Iacono, now his curator and, sometimes, co-author) of Sir, a sculpture installed at Villa Quasimodo in Messina;
Conception and realization of the Trophy for the Round Aeolian Race (Yachting Club Capo d’Orlando);
Creation of the sculpture OP – Municipality of Venetico Marina (together with the architect Dario Iacono).

For years he has been constantly engaged in his Museo del Mare project as the creator and author of the fish that populate our seas, made of life-size iron, with faithful details and measurements, already on temporary display in Savignano sul Rubicone, Milazzo and Messina (Palazzo Clamp).

According to the book “Fabbri Italiani Contemporanei-Contemporary Italian Blacksmits” (Rizzo Editore) he is one of the 18 most influential living artists in working with iron.