When you step into a ceramics studio, one scene immediately springs to mind—the most romantic moment in cinema history: Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze at the pottery wheel in Ghost. Who hasn’t dreamed, at least once, of recreating that scene or simply trying their hand at the wheel?
At Studio MUD, located at Via Alloro 66, dreams take shape—or rather, hands give shape to imagination. In the vibrant heart of Kalsa, a historic district in Palermo, Alessandro Strano has founded a co-working space dedicated to ceramics: a creative hub for both local and international artists, as well as curious beginners and passionate enthusiasts.
In addition to offering courses for the public and experience packages for tourists, Studio MUD stands out above all for its “artist residency” program—an initiative that allows ceramicists from other cities or countries to live and work in a new environment. In exchange for accommodation, the artists host a workshop for the studio’s regulars.
Studio MUD is, ultimately, a community where people give and receive without feeling the weight of labor. It’s also a way of being together, of understanding one another, and of growing through shared experience.
According to Alessandro, ceramics is a form of art therapy: working at the wheel is an exercise in symmetry, a pursuit of perfect balance that inevitably echoes within the self.
Alessandro Strano is a ceramic artist with over thirty years of experience, training, and teaching under his belt. His craft is his passion, and he’s eager to share it—not only with those ready to roll up their sleeves, but also with those simply looking for a safe space.
“The Addiopizzo sticker here sends a clear message to anyone who still tries to exploit others’ labor or to instill fear.”
Alessandro’s social commitment is like the perpetual motion of a spiral—a continuous and steady growth toward his greatest aspiration: to make Sicily a truly happy island.
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