Robotic arms are now carving Carrara marble, turning digital sketches into precise toolpaths that guide machines through the stone. The technology, developed by LITIX and ROBOTOR, promises to open marble sculpture to creators without traditional carving skills.

Giacomo Massari, founder of the two firms, says the aim is to let anyone bring an idea to life, with robots handling up to 99 % of the material removal. Skilled artisans then step in for the final touches, making the process safer and less physically demanding.

Traditional sculptors in the historic quarry have voiced unease, fearing that automation threatens a craft honed over centuries. Massari counters that the shift is an evolution of the job rather than its demise, allowing craftsmen to focus on refinement.

Italian artist Davide Quayola embraces the machines as part of his practice, describing his method as ‘algorithmic sculpting’. He programs the robot’s movements, treating the arm as an extension of his own gesture while retaining full control over the outcome.

The emergence of these tools signals a broader redefinition of the sculptor’s role: from the act of chipping stone to the act of designing, programming, and polishing. Carrara’s famed white marble continues to inspire, now shaped by code as much as by hand.

The core question remains: where does the machine’s contribution end and the artist’s begin?

View original article