The story of terrazzo flooring and its cultural significance will be on full display across Western Australia, as the regional tour of Underneath/Overlooked kicks off at Collie Art Gallery this weekend.
Created by artists Penny Bovell and Gabby Howlett, the exhibition highlights the artistry of Giuseppe and Anna Scolaro, whose handcrafted terrazzo tiles have become a hallmark of Western Australian homes and buildings since the mid-20th century.
The Scolaro family, Italian immigrants from Capo d’Orlando, established the Universal Tile Factory in Fremantle in 1952. Giuseppe, a self-taught artisan, transformed simple materials—marble chips, cement, and vibrant pigments—into intricate, bespoke designs that adorned spaces across the state. His work reflects the creativity and labour of a craftsman whose legacy has often been overlooked.
For Penny Bovell, the journey began with a personal discovery. “I first noticed the tiles on a studio floor. Then, in 2011 I impulsively bought a house with Scolaro tiles in almost every room.”
“That house turned out to be Giuseppe and Anna’s first home. I was fascinated by the bold patterns and colours, and it sparked my curiosity to learn more.”
Image credits: Penny Bovell and Gabby Howlett, Bonded and Resilient, installation view, Moores Building Art Space, 2021. Photograph by Yvonne Doherty | Mary Burns, Gabby Howlett, Armando Scolaro and Penny Bovell in the Scolaro family home now owned by Mary Burns and Trevor Richards. Photography by Rebecca Mansell | Underneath/Overlooked. Submission from the Walyalup (Fremantle) community project, installation view. Photography courtesy of the artists
Teaming up with daughter Gabby Howlett, Bovell embarked on a collaborative project that became Underneath/Overlooked. The exhibition debuted at Fremantle’s 10 Nights in Port Festival in 2021 and is now touring regional WA with ART ON THE MOVE.
The exhibition tells a deeply personal story about art, immigration, and cultural heritage. Visitors will find silk reproductions of Scolaro tile patterns, an interactive pattern-making activity, photographs of the tiles in people’s homes, and items from the Scolaro family’s archives.
“Giuseppe brought colour and joy into people’s homes,” says Howlett. “When you look at all the floors together, they’re true works of art.”
As the exhibition tours, Bovell and Howlett are calling on Western Australians to help uncover more terrazzo floors. Originally thought to exist in just 30 homes, they have since identified over 110 properties with Scolaro tiles.
“We’ve found them under floorboards and covered with glue,” says Howlett. “Every new discovery adds to this incredible story.”
The two-year regional tour of Underneath/Overlooked is made possible thanks to the State Government’s Regional Exhibition Touring Boost.
To find out more about the exhibition and community call-out for terrazzo tiles, visit artonthemove.art/terrazzo