by Ogu Collu, Published by Poliedro, 2023

Studio Angeli, located in Versilia, near the Carrara Marble quarries,  is perhaps the most prestigious contemporary stonecutting studio in Europe. Established in the 1970’s, the studio, led by Giorgio Angeli, has worked with many well-known international artists including Isamu Noguchi, Gonzalo Fonseca, Kan Yasuda, Beverly Pepper, and Gio Pomodoro to name just a few. Sculptor Charlie Kaplan has also been fortunate to work with Studio Angeli for the past fifteen years, and is included in this beautifully illustrated book with an image of his monumental work Flight as well as other mentions.

Much like Giorgio Angeli, Charlie Kaplan embraced the dreams and fantasies of marble: attraction and trepidation, fascination and fear, willing and eager to rise to that challenge.  Charlie has described his passion for stone many times -- he  touched the material and the material touched him.

Chronicling the past five decades of the Studio Angeli’s evolution, the author focuses on the heritage of skillful craftmanship built over generations, and the intimate collaboration between artist and artisan necessary at this high level of artistic vision.

“I love the challenge of working on large scale stones,” Kaplan says. “There is a special energy in public installations where the work is specifically chosen for the site.”

Charlie Kaplan's sculpture Flight was born in Pietrasanta, Italy before finding a home in California.

Artist Charlie Kaplan’s monumental work Soaring, 2018, made of Bianco Puro Carrara marble, now graces the entrance to Baruch College’s William and Anita Newman Library for the enjoyment of the campus community.

Charlie Kaplan: Sculpture, Pleasing Curves | Drawn from a collection of works Kaplan created during a 24-year period, the show concentrates on sculptures that fuse his signature biomorphic forms with a soulful modernist style. 

Drawn from a collection of works Kaplan created in a 24-year period, the show concentrates on sculptures that fuse his signature biomorphic forms with a soulful modernist style. 

Charlie Kaplan's path to sculpting marble began with an interest in hand tools.