Ceramicist Olivia Cognet chose the South of France, her homeland, to open her new showroom. “Here, I feel more inspired than ever, and I hope to create the monumental pieces I dream of,” she stated on the occasion of her recent move to Vallauris, a favorite location for artists like Picasso, Derval, and Roger Capron since the 1950s.
After six years in Los Angeles, where she perfected her technique, Cognet has established herself in the very studio that once belonged to the celebrated ceramicist Roger Capron, in order to develop a new expressive vocabulary that draws references from both the traditions of the Côte d’Azur and those of California.
At the entrance to the studio, a ceramic bas-relief sculpted by Capron himself welcomes visitors. Inside, the space is dominated by white concrete, while the concrete stairs leading to the patio are an homage to the curves of Jacques Couëlle, an artist and architect of reference for Olivia Cognet. The result is a luminous space where the pre-existing elements – the ancient collective kilns that, from the early 20th century, were used to fire large quantities of ceramics – confront Olivia’s contemporary works in a lively dialogue between memory and creation.
In this unique place, where artisanal heritage and contemporary sculptural vision coexist, designed to welcome gallery owners, architects, and professionals from around the world, the exhibition “Vestiges and Visions” currently gathers approximately 50 pieces, including monumental ceramic bas-reliefs, sculptural chandeliers, imposing totems, a six-meter-long table, and new works that fuse art and design.
Like a journey through time, the exhibition also includes a second part in Marétéra, Monaco: a floating architecture focused on the future, suspended on the Mediterranean Sea, a stage for experimental works and sculptures in various materials.
Photo credits: Eleonora Paciullo
