The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris is widely recognized as the moment when Art Deco entered the global stage as a fully defined aesthetic movement. Italy, seeking to differentiate itself from the pared foundation of emerging French modernism, used the fair to present a rich vision of applied arts shaped by its own stronghold of master craftsmen and historic ateliers. Visitors encountered elaborate metalwork, glass, textiles, and ceramics that highlighted a profound culture of making and revealed a country eager to broadcast its creative identity through the hands of its specialized workshops. That moment continues to inspire contemporary practitioners, including Conie Vallese, whose presentation for Fendi at this year's Design Miami hearkens back to that influential exhibition's maverick spirit.
At Design Miami, Fendi and Conie Vallese Reimagine Italian Craft Heritage
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Featured & Related Artworks
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Featured Artist
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Conie Vallese
Conie Vallese, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is an artist and designer whose practice moves fluidly between sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and bronze objects. Refusing fixed categories, she builds a body of work where art, design, and everyday life are deeply intertwined.
Her work is rooted in a close observation of nature. Flowers, organic forms, and botanical patterns become recurring motifs through which she explores themes of beauty, fragility, and resilience. Working with materials such as bronze and clay, Vallese translates this delicate natural world into objects that balance softness and strength.
Shaped by a creative family background—surrounded by painting, sculpture, and design from an early age—she developed a sensibility for form through lived experience rather than formal boundaries. For Vallese, “there is no work without life and no life without work,” a philosophy that runs through her entire practice.
Her approach is intuitive and process-driven, treating each piece as a trace of lived moments. Moving between disciplines and contexts, including the worlds of art, design, and fashion, she embraces a practice in constant evolution, grounded in simplicity, material honesty, and the poetics of transformation.
Her work has been presented internationally, including at Design Miami in collaboration with Fendi, marking a significant moment in her expanding presence within the collectible design landscape. Vallese’s practice has also been featured in leading publications such as Elle and Vogue, reflecting a growing recognition of her distinctive voice at the intersection of art, design, and fashion.
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