Born in Quebec, Tommy Giovanni Zen comes from generations of Venetian cabinet-makers. Starting at a very young age, Zen learned traditional woodworking in his fathers atelier.  He perfected the application of metals, gold, silver, bronze and copper leaf on furniture, which gives ornamental woods their rich finish.

At age sixteen Zen discovered a passion for ceramics, which inspired him to fuse the art of gilding on furniture to gilding on ceramic, thus continuing the family tradition in a new way.

 

Zen is represented in numerous corporate collections and is a favorite of world-class interior designers and landscapers.

The enormous ceramic jars, long slender vases and potbellied urns created by Tommy Zen are crafted using the same techniques, pigments and clays used from the beginning of time. Each piece is sanded by hand and baked at very high temperatures. Sizes vary from 36 inches to 144 inches in height and 29 inches to 60 inches in diameter. Exploring the use of modern resins Zen links the ancient to contemporary materials. Furthermore, he integrates varnish and metal leafs - including oxidized bronze - with finishes, instead of traditional glazing.

 

Right from the start, Tommy Giovanni Zen fused two traditional ceramic techniques - coils and throwing - which permits him to create pieces of imposing magnitude.  This was the beginning of years of experimentation and diligent research in chemistry and configuration.

 

At age sixteen Zen discovered a passion for ceramics, which inspired him to fuse the art of gilding on furniture to gilding on ceramic, thus continuing the family tradition in a new way.