The Wheel of Fortune

“The Wheel of Fortune” by Giorgio Laveri: Eternal Movement in Porcelain

In The Wheel of Fortune, Giorgio Laveri captures one of the Tarot’s most enigmatic and dynamic archetypes. This 32 x 18 cm glazed porcelain artwork revisits the tenth Major Arcana of the Marseille Tarot with a modern visual vocabulary that is both expressive and minimal. Designed to be hung or displayed, this unique piece bridges the worlds of divinatory symbolism and contemporary wall sculpture.

The Wheel of Fortune (Arcana X) traditionally represents the turning of cycles, fate, chance, and the unpredictable rhythms of life. It is the card of reversals and breakthroughs — a symbol of impermanence, where nothing is guaranteed, and everything can change. Laveri honors the historical structure of the card, depicting the three iconic figures in rotation around the central wheel: one rising, one falling, one at the summit. Yet he does so in a raw, stylized way that removes narrative detail in favor of archetypal clarity.

The black linework is bold, textured, and intentionally imperfect. It gives the figures a primal energy, echoing the gesture of ancient drawings or early 20th-century woodcuts. Around this graphic framework, Laveri applies vivid blocks of color — fiery red, brilliant yellow, and a cool celestial blue — that animate the composition and suggest momentum. These geometric color zones are not decorative: they articulate the emotional spectrum of the wheel’s motion — action, insight, surrender.

Porcelain, with its luminous surface and fragile elegance, is a fitting material to convey the paradox of fortune itself. It is at once solid and delicate, eternal and impermanent — much like fate. Laveri uses this material to freeze movement into a lasting, contemplative object. Whether on a wall, altar, or display shelf, this sculpture becomes a visual anchor for those reflecting on life’s turns and transitions.

Unlike tarot cards populated with gods, saints, or guides, The Wheel of Fortune speaks of impersonal forces. It is not about individual will but about cycles — cosmic, karmic, and psychological. There is no clear “hero” in this image, only energies in flux. Laveri embraces this ambiguity, giving the viewer space to project their own meaning onto the work. Is it a warning? A reminder? A celebration? The answer changes — as it should — with the wheel itself.

This piece will resonate with contemporary art collectors, tarot enthusiasts, and seekers alike. It fits effortlessly into a spiritual décor setting, a meditation room, or a modern gallery wall. It can also serve as a potent symbolic gift for someone entering a new chapter or weathering a time of transition.

Through The Wheel of Fortune, Giorgio Laveri continues his exploration of Tarot as visual language — transforming ancient archetypes into bold, modern sculptures. This is a card that doesn’t just tell the future: it lives within the present moment, pulsing with uncertainty, movement, and the timeless truth that everything changes.