Balancing Artistic Expression and Functionality With Valeria Vasi

The Barcelona-Based Artist Creates Everyday Objects With a Twist

Name:
Valeria Vasi
Photography:
Courtesy Valeria Vasi
Words:
Caroline Meeusen

Barcelona designer Valeria Vasi has always had an eye for forward-thinking art. Growing up in a variety of metropolitan cities like Moscow, Paris, and Barcelona, Valeria developed an approach to design that takes inspiration from a variety of cultures to create unique, stand-alone creations that blend functionality with artistic expression. In our interview, Valeria shares how she developed her style and what artists she looks to for a fresh dose of inspiration.

VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine: Can you tell me a bit about how you became a designer?

Valeria Vasi: The starting point was my curiosity for the world of art and design, and above all, for the manual process of crafts. I come from a fashion background, and I wanted to discover another field, so that’s how I started experimenting with ceramics. I liked it so much that I decided to launch the brand. It also allows me to develop two things that I really like: to be able to design objects and to develop the creative direction.

What was the first thing you ever designed?

The first thing that I ever designed was a small collection of pieces inspired by classic Greek art that I wanted to realize in clay. That led me to take my first round of sculpture lessons, where I explored the manual process.

How would you describe your designs and style?

My pieces are focused on combining art, design, and functionality, in which geometry and simplicity are protagonists. The shape and volume converge to create small, functional sculptures with defined lines, where the emptiness of matter acquires as much importance as its presence.

Your designs look very organic and clean. How do you achieve this?

I create my first pieces by testing prototypes, that helps me understand the volume and the proportion of the final piece. Once it is defined, I work closely with local artisans to develop small productions.

Why do you love this minimalist style?

I like pure geometric shapes, and I’ve always been inspired by Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement where the plants play an important role. So for me, it’s not just about creating ‘decorative’ objects, but overall to create a concept with an artistic direction that maintains asymmetry with the purpose of achieving harmony.

Can you tell me a bit more about the materials and techniques you use?

The manual process is key. For instance, the collection in clay represents the mud, earth, and water, and then the fire that consolidates them. It is like a return to the origin. And then there is the possibility of the shape, it is a very moldable material that allows you to experiment with volume. Now I’m experimenting as well with new materials, without abandoning this artisan aspect—always unique, exclusive, and made with natural materials.

Who do you look up to in the design world?

I admire the work of Kuramata or Noguchi, also artists such as Oteiza or Hepworth. But lately, I have been interested in flower design, and especially in Azuma Makoto, a botanical sculptor and his experimental creations based on flowers and plants.

What is your biggest inspiration in life? Does this inspire your work as well?

I grew up in different cities—Moscow, Paris, and Barcelona—so I feel very lucky to have seen different cultures, and this allowed me to have wider visual references. So traveling remains my biggest inspiration in life, it makes me more permeable and open to artistic expressions.

If you wouldn’t be a designer, what job would you do?

Probably something creative, but who knows, I still want to explore more fields and be open to whatever life brings along.