Davide Prete


Davide Prete is an Italian sculptor and architect who specializes in urban scale works using stainless steel, forged steel and small scale sculptures combining traditional metalsmithing techniques to 3D printing and laser scanning.

Background

Prete was born and raised in Treviso, Italy. His early influences include sculptor Toni Benetton and architect Toni Follina. Prete received his Degree in Architecture from the Iuav University of Venice in 2003 and his Master of Arts in Sculpture from Fontbonne University in 2010.

Artistic work

Davide Prete wants to connect traditional technique with modern shapes. For this reason he loves to work with iron forging but in contemporary ways. He said "I like to play with materials. I like to think of materials having a dialogue or a confrontation; the dark forged iron with the shining brushed stainless steel; a rectangular section with/against a circular section; soft shapes and angular figures".
Lately, he has been interested in studying and understanding the impact of new media and technologies in art, especially 3D printing and the uncovered opportunities it will lend to art. He developed a combination of 3D-modeling, laser scanning, 3D-printing and traditional metalsmithing techniques to investigate the new creative process and aesthetic / philosophical concepts related to it. He though "Sculpture and New Technologies" at the Corcoran College of Art + Design and how new media, digital arts and the latest technologies, such as laser scanning and 3D printing, can be connected to bi-dimensional and three-dimensional art.
Lately, he showcased the course at "ConFABulation", a symposium about how to integrate new media in classroom.
In 2013, he showed 3D Printed metal artwork at the 3D Print Show in London, at the Louvre in Paris and in the PBS documentary series "Craft in America, Forge".