Art and Artisan Traditions
Above: Feria Collection by Torres Ferreras and Sebastián Gallego Briefly describe your background and the beginnings of your studio. Torres Ferreras is the brand of the pottery workshop of Miguel Ángel Torres Ferreras, who first sat at the wheel at the age of 11 in a family member’s pottery workshop. In his hometown of La…
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The Association of the Friends of the National Museum of Decorative Arts (La Asociación de Amigos del Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas) and the Department of Art History of the Complutense University of Madrid have organized a four-session course on Cataloguing and Preventative Conservation of Decorative Arts. From March 10 to 12, it will be in…
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On December 7, 2024, the seventeenth edition of the 2024 National Crafts Awards was held in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism’s auditorium. The event brought together artisan finalists from all over the country in recognition of relevant actors of Spanish national crafts who, with their work, make the sector a driver of economy, employment,…
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This year my Made in Spain Holiday Gift Guide showcases ceramic jugs. There is no reason for this selection other than when I visited Spain this year, I spotted a striking striped ceramic jug in Hijo de Epigmenio. This gift store sells artisanal ceramic, glass, textiles, and other items from across Spain. I have featured this…
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Combining their mastery of artisanship, art, and design, Vajillas de Ultramar and renowned fashion designer Josep Font debuted “La Vajilla” by Josep Font, their 24-piece ceramics collection, at Milan Design Week 2024. The first appearance by Vajillas de Ultramar at this prestigious global event, the new collection combines the unique vision of Josep Font with the artisanship of…
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Five years ago, I started this blog to feature the excellence of Spanish design. I have featured dozens of artisans and makers of fine works of ceramics, leather, fiber, metal, textile, and basketry. I recently caught up with four of the studios that I have featured. In this first of two articles, I reach out…
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In April, those in the Madrid area can learn the art of ceramic making from the team at Guille García-Hoz, a ceramic artist and interior designer. The workshops take place at his studio at 6 Nao Street. Please check his website to verify available spots. Clay and Wine (April 3, 10, 17, 24) Learners enjoy a…
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On December 15, 2023, Galician artisan Álvaro M. Leiro received one of the highest honours in crafts in Spain, the prestigious Premio Nacional de Artesanía (National Award), at the sixteenth edition of the National Craft Awards. Convened annually by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism through the School of Industrial Organization (EOI) and its craft promotion arm, Fundesarte,…
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Purposely pared back, this year’s holiday gift guide showcases Spain’s rich and varied ceramic, textile, glassmaking, and woodworking artisanal traditions. Plaart Located in Madrid, Plaart studio makes unique handcrafted contemporary ceramics. Founder Isabel San Martín is a graduate in fine arts and received specialized training in ceramic arts from the School of Art Francisco Alcántara and the Moncloa School of…
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The Association of the Friends of the National Museum of Decorative Arts (La Asociación de Amigos del Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas) has organized a six-session online course, La Platería Doméstica Española de los Siglos XVI y XVII (Spanish Domestic Silverware of the 16th and 17th Centuries). Participants will learn about the characteristics of Spanish domestic…
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When you view the pieces of Idoia Cuesta, the line between art and artisanship begins and ends as one. She describes her work as the “fusion of basketry with textiles and the versatility of the resulting piece through the combination of organic materials with different craft techniques.”. A longstanding admirer of her work, I was happy…
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To speak with my voice: the ultimate. I did not want anything more, anything different. Cassandra, by Christa Wolf On March 30, Spain’s National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid inaugurated the exhibition Cassandra, featuring the works of textile artist Kima Guitart. Cassandra is her vision of the myth of Cassandra, a symbol of unheard…
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