Laffresco

Laffresco is a cultural initiative and imprint focused on fresco art and its modern reinterpretation, based in Italy. It combines artistic practice with conservation theory, education, and the dissemination of fresco techniques, spanning from ancient to contemporary applications.

History: Established in 2012 as a cooperative in Bologna by a group of artists, conservators, and academics, Laffresco grew to operate across Italy and later expanded to Europe. Its mission is to study fresco through hands-on workshops, field projects, and scholarly publishing.

Activities: The organization conducts restorations of historical frescoes, documentation and digitization of mural techniques, and public art projects that reference fresco languages. It also runs training programs for students, local conservators, and street artists, and maintains an online archive of fresco-related resources, images, and documentation.

Projects and publications: Notable programs include the Laffresco Archive of case studies, collaborations with universities, and exhibitions that juxtapose traditional fresco practices with contemporary approaches. The imprint also publishes catalogues and a periodical dedicated to fresco practice and pedagogy.

Impact and reception: Laffresco is cited as contributing to restoration ethics and the revival of experimentation in fresco as a living tradition. It has faced discussions about balancing preservation with contemporary appropriation, but is regarded as influential within the Italian art scene.

Conclusion: Laffresco continues to operate as a collaborative platform for artists, conservators, and scholars, seeking to bridge historical techniques with modern practice.