The 2017 Traces Collection by Sophie Dries Architect
Architect and designer Sophie Dries has created a series of ceramics and metal vases with the french potery makers Thomas Vivant and Felix Galland. Hand crafted from raw materials and processed through precious treatments, each collectible design pieces is offered in limited editions, and produced upon request.
The Traces collection is named after the idea of scars in the ceramics, made with knives on uncooked stoneware. The traces of clay blown on the surface of black and white vases uncover a design history, from primitive pottery in early civilizations, to contemporary radical shapes.
Sophie Dries plays with traditional arts and craft materials ⏤ hand crafted raw steel and pottery ⏤ with a contemporary twist, where the contrast between black clay and shiny metals subtly merges with the paradox between smooth surfaces and scarified ceramics.
For her new collection, Sophie Dries created a ceramic-focused series recognizable from white stoneware projected on black unexpected shapes. The set unveils a surprising balance between double spheres, refering to the mayas temples, and purist shapes inspired by 18th century architect Etienne-Louis Boullee.
Previous to her 2017 collection, Sophie designed a specific brass series for the Salone Del Mobile, shown for the first time in April 2016. After the exibition at Pad London in October 2016 for l’Éclaireur gallery, Sophie designed other specific items such as the Gypsum candle holders, which emphasize the candles' flames. Those hand crafted pieces are now presented at l’Éclaireur in Paris, as well as at their recently opened Los Angeles' outpost.
The Traces 2017 collection has been shown at Henge (via Della Spiga) during the Milan Salone 2017, as well as at the Impermanent Collection Gallery during The Art Brussels fair in April 2017.
April to June 2017, some of Sophie Dries' pieces are also being featured at a ceramics show inside the French Burgundy castle « Chateau de Sainte Colombe », along with Andrea Branzi and Michele De Lucchi design works.
More about Sophie Dries
Sophie Dries architect is a Paris based design studio run by the architect Sophie Dries from end 2014 when she was 28. She has been collaborating for several years with many luxury interior design & architecture offices in Paris such as ateliers Jean Nouvel, Pierre Yovanovitch or Christian Liaigre. After graduating as an architect at Paris Malaquais Architecture School located in the Beaux Arts, and studying furniture design at Aalto University of Helsinki (Finland). She started to design exhibitions for Musee D’orsay. Sophie Dries also studied at l’École du Louvre, therefore specializing in contemporary art advising.
Sophie Dries architect has been designing shops in Istanbul, renovating a Paris loft and an artist apartment in the hotel d’Aligre, rue de l’Universite, Paris 7. She was part of the Danish Architecture Residency of «Jorn Utzon Foundation» in the villa can lis in 2015 and created some design pieces. Sophie Dries currently works on the renovation of a countryside mansion in France, several apartments in paris, a luxury private housing abroad, and recently launched a numbered edition of lighting and furniture line.
Images by Cecilia Musmeci
Courtesy of Sophie Dries Architect
