“If you had told me fifty years ago that I would build my activities from the proceeds of windbells, I would have said you were crazy.” - Paolo Soleri

Born in Turin, Italy on June 21, 1919, Paolo Soleri was awarded his Ph.D. with highest honors in architecture from the Torino Polytechnico in 1946. He came to the United States in 1947 and spent a year-and-a-half in fellowship with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Arizona, and at Taliesin East in Wisconsin. During this time, he gained international recognition for a bridge design displayed at the Museum of Modern Art and published in The Architecture of Bridges by Elizabeth Mock.

He returned to Italy in 1950 where he was commissioned to build a large ceramics factory, "Ceramica Artistica Solimene." The processes he became familiar with in the ceramics industry led to his award-winning designs of ceramic and bronze windbells and siltcast architectural structures. For over 30 years, the proceeds from the windbells have provided funds for construction to test his theoretical work.

Each year, Cosanti and Arcosanti metal and ceramic studios produce about 17,000 bronze bells and 5,000 ceramic bells. The proceeds from these bells go toward the overall running of the Arcosanti project and maintaining the Cosanti facilities.

Your contribution toward Cosanti Foundation through the purchase of bronze and ceramic bells is a valuable addition to the financial base.

You can make a bell purchase from our website: or through calling one of our two gallery locations.

Cosanti: 480-948-6145
Arcosanti: 928-632-6217