Federico Alibrio - Shadow-Veiled Oracle - Sleeping Barn Owl

Shadow-Veiled Oracle - Sleeping Barn Owl by Federico Alibrio
Ceramic Sculpture

Significance and Poetics
Shadow-Veiled Oracle ("Oracolo Velato d'Ombra") is a ceramic work that explores the intimate and mysterious nature of the barn owl, a creature traditionally linked to deep wisdom, nocturnal vision, and the passage between the visible and the invisible.
The barn owl is not portrayed here as a simple raptor, but as a sacred and silent figure: an oracle guardian of ancient truths. Its gaze, collected and introspective, seems to look beyond matter, inviting the viewer to a moment of contemplation and silence.

Form, Texture and Color
The piece stands out for a powerful chromatic and material contrast:
- The Head and the Flight (The Shadow): The upper part is dominated by a dark shade, almost anthracite with a deep cobalt, finished with a matte, grainy texture that evokes the night, the darkness and the veil of mystery ("Shadow-Veiled"). The grooves skillfully worked on the face and around the eyes give an enigmatic and solemn expressiveness.
- The Plumage and the Body (The Earth): Descending toward the base, the ceramic fades into warm and ivory tones of natural clay and earthy beige, characterized by deep and organic vertical incisions that evoke the softness of the feathers and the connection with the earth.

Notes on the Artist and Collectibility
Hand sculpted and finished with a strong sensitivity for ceramic material, the sculpture bears on the back the artist’s original signature F. Alibrio and the archival year of creation (26). A unique and striking piece, ideal for contemporary art collectors, lovers of author ceramics, and appreciators of symbolic works with strong decorative and conceptual value.

The Author's Seal: The Monogram
To guarantee the artistic vision and originality of the project, the piece bears Federico Alibrio’s distinctive monogram. The symbol, which fuses the initials of the artist’s name, is an integral part of the design and certifies that every stage of creation, from the original model to the final finish, occurred under his stringent aesthetic control.

On the back there is a hole to hang on the wall. The work will be shipped in careful packaging and with a corresponding certificate of authenticity.

The Sicilian artist Federico Alibrio, born in 1995, is always seeking inspiration through new experiences.

A graduate in Sculpture in 2021 at the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, he works in sculpture and painting. He has participated in and continues to participate in high-profile cultural exhibitions and symposia, demonstrating commitment and seriousness in addressing sculptural practice.

"Open-minded people find inspiration everywhere" is one of his philosophical approaches. Reality itself is the greatest source of inspiration. His passions are: wildlife (sensitive to endangered species) and trees. His goal is to display the beauty of nature.