Bic Create in Paris awards Valerio Pisano’s art: pens designed with pens, without compromise
Federico Conti • April 16, 2025
Valerio Pisano and the giant bronze (in the shape of a Bic) in the Lanusei woods
His obsession with the Bic pen was recognized by Bic Create in Paris: Valerio Pisano, 56, from Lanusei, a love born in school when he felt the need to distance himself and drew to express his creativity.
When and how did you start using the Bic pen as an artistic tool? Was it a coincidence or a conscious choice from the beginning?
My predilection for the Bic pen was born naturally during my growth. I have always preferred this pen to any other tool, feeling the desire to transfer my emotions on paper with the Bic. In 2011, during a move, I found an album from elementary school in which I had drawn two self-portrait pens. I realized that, without knowing it, I had already found the answer as a child, and it was a moment of great discovery.
How does one of your works come to life? Do you start from a precise idea or do you let your instinct guide you?
It depends on various factors, sometimes I start from a precise idea, other times I am inspired by external stimuli. However, I prefer to remain free by following instinct and improvisation; the freedom to create is fundamental for me: I want to be free to express myself without constraints.
How long does it take, on average, to create one of your works? Is there a particular technical process behind each piece?
It depends on the project, the giant bronze required a long and complex work. When I work on a drawing, I go straight with the pen, without doing any preliminary planning.
Do you ever have a creative crisis? If so, what do you do to find inspiration?
It often happens to me after exhibitions, after having collected everything I find myself in a creative void; initially it bothered me, but now I have understood that it is a cyclical phase that passes. To find inspiration, I remain open to what comes randomly, ready to capture signals and inspirations.
If you had to describe your art in three words, which would you choose and why?
Rebellion, freedom, and limitless expression. My art has always gone against the grain, and even though I have received advice to have a recognizable style, I have always seen this request as a limitation, the only recognizability I have is linked to pens, which is why they call me Mister Bic.
