Piccia Neri on Art, Typography, and Holding Onto Tuscany

Send us Fan MailAn unexpected conversation with a woman who is Tuscan forever, no matter where she lives. In this episode, Piccia Neri dives into the unique aspects of her name and her life journey. She starts by explaining how her name, which isn't her official name, often garners intrigue, particularly because it doesn't exist in Italy. Despite living in multiple countries, including the UK and Spain, she has retained her distinct name. In Spain, however, her legal name takes on a comical existence due to its resemblance to a slang term for a male anatomical part.Piccia shares her early life experiences, highlighting her Italian roots and her move from the idyllic childhood in Parma to the less favored childhood in Siena. Her father, who had ties to both Milan and Tuscany, was a winemaker, and his work influenced much of her upbringing. Despite initially studying law, she quickly abandoned it due to lack of interest and instead pursued her passion in London driven by her love of music, which was a major part of her life in the late 80s and early 90s. Piccia describes her involvement in the vibrant London music scene, surrounded by a community of musicians and artists.After some time in London, Piccia ventured into the publishing world focused on arts institutions like museums and galleries. This led to her passion for typography, which she eventually evolved into accessible typography practices. Her work is described as platform-agnostic, emphasizing the importance of typography in creating effective visual communications, rooted in sound HTML structure.Aside from her professional endeavors, Piccia discusses her personal interests such as inline skating and yoga. She shares how yoga has become an indispensable part of her daily routine, helping her maintain physical and mental well-being. The conversation also notes her dislike for helmets during skating due to the limited protection they offer, emphasizing her preference for safety in other activities where helmets are more effective.The interview wraps up with insights into her cooking abilities, influenced by her profound family culinary traditions. Piccia also talks about her family, including her older brother, younger sister, and her close relationships with her niece and nephew. She concludes by recommending Andrew Palmer as a guest for a future interview, noting his interesting life and mentioning that they share mutual connections in the WordPress community.