Born in Pescara in 1947, Roberto Cipollone (Ciro) spent his childhood around his father’s artisan foundry, where he learned the rudiments of working with iron and bronze. The idea of creating a workshop based on the medieval mold was born in Loppiano in 1982, after having contributed, since 1977, to the birth and development of a craft workshop for artistic woodworking. In that context, Cyrus began the creation of works that already bear the unmistakable mark of his style. “Knowing how to look” is perhaps the first creative act for Ciro. It is what allows him to see the beauty that surrounds him, though often hidden behind the appearances of decay. Guided by a deep love for nature and a strong spiritual tension, he tries to take every opportunity to express this being in his artifacts. Respect for the material used and its history suggest that he adopts the pseudonym “Cyrus,” which, in addition to being an acronym for his surname and first name, is related to the great Persian king known for his respect for the people. “The material used is a clear and well-oriented choice: deliberately it has no value. Its value is hidden and I try to give humble stories not yet told to the object” (Cyrus). The objects with which he creates his compositions are the most varied: wood, iron, stone, fabric and other discarded objects that he considers to be richer in life. In Ciro’s art, in fact, one can read – not without emotion – his intimate esteem for the manual labor – now vanished – of the farmer and craftsman: labor that did not exclude a humble tribute to beauty as well. His works, from the beginning, are highly appreciated both in Italy and abroad. Since 1982 he has created solo and group exhibitions in Italy and in almost all European countries, with episodes in some places in the world such as China, Japan and Venezuela. Several galleries permanently host Ciro’s compositions. Various cities have been asked to contribute his art as a reclamation of the urban environment, and some television networks have dedicated monographic reports to him. Ciro lives and works in Loppiano, stimulated by an extremely diverse and fruitful cultural environment, in which he himself is a valuable contribution and a point of reference for many.