Discover wood carving art in Val Gardena

Wood carving has been a popular craft in Val Gardena for over 400 years. Before the Dolomite valley was transformed into a winter sports and hiking paradise, Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva were mainly populated by poor farming families who farmed during the summer months and used the long, dark winter days to make small carvings to sell at markets. The wooden toys, pretty nativity scenes and holy figures as well as skilfully crafted crucifixes from Val Gardena quickly became very popular.

More and more families sent their sons to train in Venice, Rome or Vienna. The sideline of carving soon developed into a branch of industry, from which more than 70% of Val Gardena's population made a living at the end of the 19th century. Even though modern technical aids are changing the craft and customers' tastes are constantly changing, carvings from Val Gardena are still extremely popular today. Take advantage of your holiday in the Dolomites to discover the fascinating world of woodcarving in Val Gardena.

Get to know the living tradition of wood carving in Val Gardena and take the opportunity to visit renowned workshops and shops offering wood carvings during your holiday in the Dolomites. Here you will find the most prominent online shops, businesses and producers of genuine woodcarving art in Val Gardena.

In several museums and galleries, you have the chance to admire extraordinary wood carvings and learn interesting facts about the 400-year-old tradition and current production of the world-famous Val Gardena woodcarving art.

Vijion Art Gallery

The Vijion Art Gallery in Pontives, near Ortisei, is one of the meeting points for lovers of modern art in Val Gardena. Valentine and Egon Stuflesser have been presenting works by newcomers and well-known artists here since 2010. The picturesque landscape of the Dolomites and the ever-present woodcarving art of Val Gardena serve as valuable inspiration for the gallery owners.

ART52 Exhibition

One of the largest permanent exhibitions can be found in the Congress Centre in Ortisei. As part of the ART52 Exhibition, 52 artists present hand-carved sculptures and art paintings. The exhibition is open daily from 9 am to 10 pm and offers an excellent overview of the different styles and trends that make Val Gardena's arts and crafts unique. Plan enough time to visit the exhibition and look forward to a multifaceted presentation of a traditional craft that is appreciated by enthusiasts worldwide. The exhibition is free to visit.

In the Val Gardena Museum in Ortisei, you can find out everything you need to know about the history, nature and culture of this fascinating Dolomite valley. Naturally, wood carving is also given a fitting place in the permanent exhibition. You'll be amazed by the old wooden toys – one of Val Gardena's popular exports. The wooden toy collection has existed since 1940 and in the wood carving section, you will find sculptures, a summit cross and many other works of art from four centuries. If you're expecting only pious carvings here, you'll be surprised by the unique brand of whimsy displayed by the wood carvers from all eras.

In Val Gardena's packed event calendar, you will find woodcarving events all year round. Be sure to take a look at the calendar of events during your next holiday and take the opportunity to get to know this living tradition at one of the fairs and exhibitions.

UNIKA Art Fair

The annual UNIKA Art Fair is a highlight for art lovers who want to get an impression of the work of Val Gardena artists from various disciplines. UNIKA is an association of over 40 local sculptors, painters, woodturners and photographers. The artists are united by their desire to preserve the artistic heritage of the Dolomite valley and see it as an incentive to continue and present the excellence of craftsmanship. To this end, the association, founded in 1994, organises the IDEA UNIKA biennale in addition to the main UNIKA exhibition.

Fascinating works of art await you on over 500 square metres of exhibition space. Whether at the vernissage or on one of the exhibition days – take the opportunity to talk to the artists and learn more about traditions, techniques and motifs in a personal exchange.

Gherdëina Biennale

Val Gardena has been the venue for the Gherdëina Biennale since 2008. Doris Ghetta initiated the art event as a side event of Manifesta 7. With the exhibition of contemporary art in public space, the Gherdëina Biennale is an event in which landscape, culture and art merge and invite the viewer to adopt new perspectives and engage directly with the exhibits.

Doris Ghetta deliberately collaborates with local wood sculptors, craftspeople and international artists and curates an exciting supporting programme with artist talks and panels. In this way, the Gherdëina Biennale makes an important contribution to education and addresses people of all ages and backgrounds with its exhibition of public art. It strengthens the identity of the region and opens up to international influences that promote innovation and growth. If you would like to find out more about the artworks at the Gherdëina Biennale, take part in one of the guided tours.

Val Gardena is the ideal destination for art lovers. Find out about current exhibitions and visit the galleries of the Dolomite valley to admire modern art and traditional carvings. The galleries offer a changing programme with works by different artists and a variety of thematic focuses.

Doris Ghetta Gallery

Founded in 2013 by Doris Ghetta, the gallery in Pontives near Ortisei hosts five parallel special exhibitions every year as well as a permanent exhibition of works by renowned artists from Val Gardena and South Tyrol. Located in a converted snowmobile factory, the gallery brings contemporary art to South Tyrol and gives local artists international visibility with pop-up exhibitions in art metropolises such as Milan, Florence and Zurich.

Circolo

The exhibition rooms of the Circolo – Circle for Art and Culture – are located right in the centre of Ortisei. Founded by art enthusiasts, the association organises exciting exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year that never fail to delight locals and tourists alike. The history of the Circolo dates back to 1920 when some of the most important wood sculptors in the valley came together to form an exhibition association to give local artists the opportunity to showcase their work.

Tublà da Nives

The architecture of the Tublà da Nives cultural centre in Selva, which opened in 2010, reveals that the cultural association aims to combine tradition and modernity harmoniously. A total of four rooms for exhibitions and events are housed in the centre, which is made of wood and glass. Find out about current solo and group exhibitions before your visit and look forward to high-calibre music events, exciting lectures and readings.

Are you fascinated by the art of wood carving in Val Gardena? Would you like to try your hand at transforming a piece of wood into a figure with a carving knife? As part of the Val Gardena Active events programme, carving courses for adults take place on several dates throughout the year. Under expert guidance and in a group of like-minded people, you will learn the most important basic carving techniques and have the opportunity to ask renowned woodcarvers for tips to help turn your carving projects into reality at home.

Those who spend their holidays in Val Gardena often toy with the idea of taking home a carved nativity scene or a wooden figure as a souvenir. However, genuine Val Gardena handicrafts come at a price. In order to ensure that you really are buying hand-carved figures from one of Val Gardena's artisan businesses and not mass-produced items, trademarks have been developed in recent years. Ask for the relevant seals when shopping.

Entirely Hand Carved

What is hand-carved art anyway and what tools are woodcarvers allowed to use in their work if they sell their products as "hand-carved"? This important question has been addressed by the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce, among others. Since 1969, the Chamber has been awarding the "Entirely Hand Carved" trademark after careful examination of each work of art. You can recognise the corresponding sculptures by the metal plaque and a certificate proving that they are entirely hand-carved. With a carving labelled with this trademark, you are purchasing a valuable work of art produced without the aid of electrical equipment, which you will certainly enjoy.

Gardena Art

In order to protect the artistic and artisan traditions of Val Gardena, the local woodcarvers have joined together in the Gardena Art Association, which awards the "Gardena Art" seal. The definition of craftsmanship in this association also allows the use of an electric pantograph to produce rough versions of the carvings. The further finishing of these raw frames is done by hand. Pay attention to the corresponding labelling if you want to buy carvings from Val Gardena and pay tribute to the long tradition of the Dolomite valley in this way.