Constanza “Conie” Vallese would rather be in a tent right now, or at least somewhere slightly farther afield than her apartment in central Milan, where I reach her. The restorative properties of getting away from it all come up repeatedly in our conversation, as focused as it is on her recent successes, all of which have been born of the niche economics of collectible design as much as the natural world she instinctively turns to for inspiration.
Through painting and sculpting Vallese became interested in a more expansive materials palette and the collaborative work of making objects. She designed her first chair during a 2023 residency at the Battaglia Art Foundry in Milan.
Her collaboration with the fashion house Fendi, exhibited at Design Miami 2025, could be understood as the fullest expression of softness as strength. It brought together her signature typologies in a cohesive collection consisting of works in bronze, ceramic, and glass; even the handle of an iconic Peekaboo bag came flower-adorned.
