In March 2026, Studio Izzo is delighted to present an exclusive one-week fresco painting workshop with guest Italian master conservator Malcom Maso. This course will explore traditional fresco-making techniques and is designed for anyone with experience in art and heritage. A conservation background is not required.
Please note that the workshop will go ahead subject to sufficient expressions of interest. For any questions or to register your interest, feel free to contact us at admin@studioizzo.co.
· Course duration: 5 days (9am–4pm)
· Date options:
16–20 March 2026 or 23–27 March 2026
· Price: NZD $1,200 (covers the full course, including all materials). If you bring a colleague or friend, you will both receive a 10% discount.
· Application process: No application process required.
· Participant limit: Each session is limited to a maximum of 13 participants.
· Historical and technical overview of the fresco technique.
· Introduction to different materials and hands-on preparation of mixtures for various surfaces.
· Demonstrations of different decorative techniques.
· Practical work on plasterboard prepared with raw lime plaster and background layers.
· Completion of a full fresco decoration.
· Group discussions and opportunities to learn directly from Malcom Maso’s expertise and from fellow participants.
This is an incredible opportunity to liaise with others within the creative industry and take part in the very first workshop of this kind in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Malcom Maso is a Venetian artisan and conservator joining us all the way from Venice. He has extensive experience in decorative and construction techniques related to the use of slaked lime, a key material in ancient architecture and art.
His expertise is rooted in the centuries-old tradition of Venetian stucco workers, specialised in architectural decoration ranging from three-dimensional stucco to frescoes and high-quality plasters, passed down and perfected through generations of craftspeople.
Maso has gained extensive knowledge of these ancient techniques and has adapted them to the unique climatic challenges of Venice, such as humidity and salt air. His expertise has allowed him to participate in significant restoration and conservation projects of artistic and architectural heritage, including works by renowned Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. He has also contributed to the restoration of the Olivetti Showroom, and the Gallerie dell’ Accademia in Venice. Internationally Malcom has had has been trusted to recreate fresco scenes from Pompeii.
To secure your place, please contact us at admin@studioizzo.co with your preferred date option, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
A non-refundable $200 deposit is required to confirm your booking. Once we hear back from you, we’ll send through payment instructions. Please note that if the course cannot go ahead due to unforeseen circumstances on our end, the deposit will be fully refunded.