Azzurra Galatolo
Azzurra Galatolo is an Italian painter living in a small town in Tuscany, nestled between hills, sea, and lagoon. She takes inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds her to create folk-inflected pieces in expressive watercolours.
For Autumn 25, Azzurra has created The Dance of Fruit, drawing upon time she spent in orchards as a child. Her painting captures the orchard as a shared world for both humans and wildlife. In an intriguing symmetrical composition, figures harvest apples from the trees and snakes coil between windfallen fruit.
How would you describe your work?
I work in a traditional way, guided by instinct. I love painting with watercolours on paper, or with oil on canvas or wooden panels. Quality materials are essential to me.
What were your first thoughts when Ffern approached you about responding to their Autumn 25 fragrance?
The idea of working with Ffern instantly filled me with joy. I grew up in the Tuscan countryside, so the world of orchards and fruit harvesting is deeply rooted in my memory. In The Dance of Fruit, I sought to capture the sensation of a cherished memory.
How did you approach painting ‘The Dance of Fruit’?
My approach was purely instinctive. I didn’t prepare detailed sketches; instead, I began painting the moment I reached that perfect state of concentration, when the gesture flows like water. To deepen these feelings, I love walking in nature, gathering small stones, leaves, and branches — bringing them into my studio as little treasures.
Can you describe your favourite scent?
My favourite fragrance is inseparable from nature. Where I live, there’s a garden of oaks, mulberries, and pomegranate trees. In autumn, I spend long afternoons there with my daughters, collecting the most beautiful leaves and using them to create pictures and games. The scent of fallen autumn leaves is my dearest fragrance.
What is your favourite seasonal ritual?
I spend much of my time outdoors and love creating moodboards with natural elements, as well as seasonal bouquets.
How does nature and working with the seasons inspire and inform your work?
My connection to nature is deep and constant. Not a single day passes without finding a way to contemplate it and offer my gratitude.
Where else do you find your inspiration?
I enjoy wandering through local markets, discovering folkloric and unusual objects. I’m fascinated by tribal imagery, children’s drawings, and the intricate, wondrous forms of insects and animals.
What is the best advice you could pass on?
Never ignore your instinct.
Photography by Jada Vitolo