Olivia Cognet’s Ceramic Pieces Mix Modern Brutalism with Sensual Femininity.

After spending six years in Los Angeles learning to model clay, Olivia Cognet has returned to her native South of France to pursue her work as a ceramic artist. Continuing to develop panoramic murals and sculptures–lamps, mirrors and vases in organic forms, the young artist extends her artistic vocabulary—drawn from the cultural history of the Côte d’Azur and California.

The multidisciplinary artist, who has also worked as an accessory designer for luxury fashion brands, has a clear artistic style that mixes modern brutalist silhouettes with sensual femininity. In her Retro Future collection, Olivia looks to capture the optimism and imagination of the 1970s. The pieces feature bold geometric shapes and sleek lines, evoking spaceships, robots, or other elements of science fiction from that period. The collection was shot in the lobby of a building in Cannes that is a time capsule in itself.

Ceramic Lighting & Candelabra Collection by Jan Ernst.

Inspired by the ancient, majestic rock formations found in South Africa’s Cederberg region, the designer’s creations emerge from the natural...

Her giant lampshades pay homage to the artisanal industry of Vallauris, known as the Ceramic City. Renowned for its ceramics and pottery production since the 19th century, the town became famous in the 1970s for its giant lampshades, which became iconic of that era.

Now settled in Vallauris, the designer has set up an atelier in the celebrated ceramicist Roger Capron’s old labyrinthine studio—which she bought and renovated before recently moving in. “Here, I feel more inspired than ever. I hope to be able to make the monumental pieces that I dream of,” Olivia says.

To explore more of her work, click here.

Nadia Yaron’s Totemic Sculptures at Francis Gallery in L.A.

Drawing on her deep connection with nature and place, the self-taught artist worked with chainsaws, axes and hand-carving tools to...

[Images courtesy of Olivia Cognet. Photography by Thierry Lebraly.]