Born 1988, countryside Victoria, Sollai studied carving in Pietrasanta Italy, under the tutelage of Italy’s Artigiani. He returns to this art mecca annually to collect marble from the quarries and has them sent to his permanent studio in Berlin, Germany where he lives with his wife and Muse, contemporary dancer – Danica Hilton. 

Sollai takes his inspiration from nature, his greatest teacher, but also frequents the many art masters housed in museums world wide; he is particularly fond of old masters such as Moore, Brancusi, Marini, Picasso, Matisse, but is, inevitably influenced by all things that make the heart yearn.

For Sollai, carving and making Art is a pursuit in connecting with the universe, “I carve because it takes me away from ego, and connects me to the Universe and its beauty in a productive way.”

Many of Sollai’s sculptures are purely explorations of form and light. His works are a journey to the beholder as well as to himself and he would say that he is in collaboration with the marble itself and the materials desires are as important as his own. The works therefore establish themselves in very organic and evocative forms.

Sollai recently exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in March 2019. In 2018 he showed in the Exhibition Hall of Australia House, London, celebrating the centenary of the buildings construction on the Strand.  Art Central Hong Kong with MARS Gallery of Melbourne, 2018. He has a major piece in esteemed Bei Wu Sculpture Park Germany and showed for the opening in 2016. Sollai has had solo exhibitions with MARS gallery Melbourne, 2016, Hardman Gallery Berlin 2018, private shows in collectors gardens and salons in Hong Kong and Berlin. Sollai is placed in major private collections, such as with the late Art Collector, Neilma Gantner. He otherwise has works collected in Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Holland and Italy.

EXHIBITIONS
2019
Marmo! Harvey Galleries. Mosman, Sydney
Sculpture by the Sea . Cottesloe, Perth
Hill – Smith Gallery . Exhibition . Adelaide
Open Studio . Nunan – Cartwright atelier . Correns . Provence
Harvey Galleries . Solo Exhibition . Sydney
Sculpture by the Sea . Bondi . Sydney
Evening with Sculpture . Private Garden . Hong Kong
Artvisory . Melbourne (2020)
2018   
Australia House, Australian High Commission, Centenary Exhibition, London
Art Central showing with MARS Gallery, Hong Kong
New Works, Solo Exhibition, Prenzlauer Studio, Berlin
Hardman Galerie, Berlin,  Germany
CheckPoint Ilgen Art Salon, Berlin
2017
CheckPoint Ilgen, Curated by Fré and Jacqueline Ilgen , Berlin
Atelierfest, Weisensee, Berlin
2016 
Placed in Bei Wu Sculpture Park, Wesenberg, Germany
Touch This  Exhibition,  Melbourne
New Works,   Exhibition,  MARS Gallery,   Melbourne
2015  
Lot 19, Spring Art Fair, Castlemaine – Awarded Prize for Sculpture
Group Exhibition,  Castlemaine State Festival
2014  
Private Exhibition with Sandra Walters Art Consultancy, Hong Kong
Group Exhibition, Nock Art Foundation, Hong Kong
Group Exhibition, La Rondine Gallery, Tuscany, Italy
2013
Hong Kong Art Festival,  Group Exhibition,  ZZHK Gallery, Hong Kong
Women’s Day Exhibition, Tuscany,  Italy
2012
La Rondine Gallery Group Exhibition, Hong Kong

SELECTED COMMISSIONS
Reclining Woman, Private Collection, Melbourne
Ula, Bei Wu Sculpture Park, Wesenberg, Germany
Leonida, Tuscany, Italy
Fish, Private Collection, Bermagui, Australia
Growth, Private Collection, Melbourne,  Australia
Currawong and Bush Spirit, Mullumbimby,  Australia

ARTIST RESIDENCY
2019  Basket Range, Adelaide Hills, Australia
2016 Bei Wu Artist in Residence, Wesenberg, Germany
2014 Cill Rialaig Art Project, Kerry, Ireland
2013 Artist in Residence, Mullumbimby, Australia
2013 Resident Artist at Jatsura Lewis Studio, Montreal, Canada