Caterina Alcaro
Caterina Alcaro was born in Catania in 1942. Endowed with artistic talent, she learned the art of embroidery at a very young age and began working as a weaver for Italia Disegno, in Asti, a point of reference for Italian design founded by Ugo Scassa. Ettore Sottsass Jr. was its consultant.
Caterina was already working at the looms by the time the company won the contract for the Leonardo da Vinci liner. Italia Disegno would later change its name and headquarters, and is known today all around the world as Arazzeria Scassa. Over time, thanks to her meaningful working experience and continuing education, Caterina became the closest collaborator and leading artist weaver of Arazzeria Scassa. The artistic legacy of the tapestry workshop lives on today through the hands of Caterina, who, in addition to promoting important exhibitions, also devotes her time to teaching the art of weaving to new generations. Today as in the past, each Scassa tapestry is crafted on seventeenth-century looms by skilled weavers employing the traditional high-warp technique, inspired by the great tapestry makers of the past.
Over the course of her artistic journey she created countless pieces working alongside famous names in the fields of art, fashion and culture. Namely, over time: Cagli, Basaldella, Guttuso, Mastroianni, De Chirico, Renzo Piano and many others. Recently, Caterina managed Cartier Paris’ large commission for the company’s new boutique in Madrid, from transposing the design into tapestry to the actual weaving process. In 2017 Ugo Scassa passed away. His immense artistic legacy continues thanks to the passion and talent of Caterina Alcaro, who collaborates with her sister Franca Alcaro and nephew Massimo Bilotta.
