New Wanneroo exhibition celebrates WA’s Italian tile artisans
Underneath/Overlooked opens at Wanneroo Regional Gallery on 14 October, offering a colourful journey through the work of Italian migrants Giuseppe and Anna Scolaro whose handcrafted terrazzo tiles have become a defining feature of Western Australian interiors.
The exhibition traces the Scolaro family’s arrival from Sicily in the early 1950s, the establishment of the Universal Tile Factory in Fremantle, and Giuseppe’s self‑taught mastery of marble chips, cement and pigments to create bold, bespoke patterns that still adorn homes and public spaces.
Artists Penny Bovell and Gabby Howlett sparked the project after Bovell discovered the tiles in her own house, later learning it was the Scolaros’ first home. Their research uncovered hidden tiles beneath floorboards, turning personal curiosity into a collaborative celebration of an overlooked craft.
Visitors are invited to join the search, sharing stories and photographs of any Scolaro tiles they encounter in private or commercial settings, helping to map a hidden cultural landscape across the region.
With a large Italian‑heritage community in Wanneroo, the show not only highlights a distinctive design legacy but also invites reflection on the migrant generations who helped shape Western Australia’s built environment.