Retrofuture ceramic chandelier by Olivia Cognet

A ceramic chandelier by Olivia Cognet from the Retrofuture series, reinterpreting classic forms and infusing them with modern (and futuristic) details and decorations.

Here is an example where the overall shape of the chandelier recalls that of a Murano fountain chandelier with its tiers of varying lengths and beveled ends, but crafted from a single piece of ceramic and covered with abstract geometric shapes and decorations.

Olivia Cognet
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2016, French artist and designer Olivia Cognet has focused on ceramics, which she considers the fertile medium through which she expresses her boundless creativity. Thanks to the freedom this material offers her to explore all types of shapes and sizes, she creates monumental bas-reliefs and giant totems, as well as chairs, tables, lamps, and vases. These unique pieces, handcrafted by the artist in her studio, all share the same high aesthetic, abstract, and graphic standards. She draws inspiration from the light and shadows of California's landscapes, its modernist architecture, and its vibrant nature. By bringing a modern twist to the grand tradition of decorative arts, her works are both functional and powerfully evocative. Olivia Cognet grew up in Nice on the French Riviera, studied at Villa Arson, and was influenced by the brilliant masters of the Vallauris school, from Picasso to Roger Capron; for her, ceramics are a key element of architecture. She begins by exploring ideas on paper before moving on to stoneware, using a local clay that comes in three natural hues. Her creations highlight the power of contrasts; her minimal, geometric lines intertwine with a sensual and organic vocabulary. The austere aesthetic of raw clay is enhanced by the elegance of crackled glazes, which create unique effects. Elsewhere, ethereal outgrowths defy the laws of gravity. Day after day, guided by her intuition, Olivia Cognet reinvents the poetic experience of creation, shaping the work through the purity of the material. It is the magic of the artisan, combined with the promise of vibrant beauty, to enrich everyday life. Olivia is now back in France, where she works in the former studio of the French ceramic master Roger Capron.

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