Arianna De Luca

Ceramicist

©Arianna De Luca

Archetypes in bold colours

Arianna reinterprets her roots through ceramics
She works on striking colour palettes
Research is a key part of her making process

The ceramicist Arianna De Luca was born in Abruzzo, a central region of Italy, rich in natural resources and ancient traditions. After studying industrial design in Italy and London where she obtained an MA from Central Saint Martins, she worked as an interior designer. But Arianna felt the need to explore her cultural roots and the theme of nostalgia through ceramics. The region of Castelli where she grew up has been renowned for its ceramics since the Renaissance. Today, in this glorious setting, Arianna brings her original contribution by creating her contemporary world, ironic, playful and cheerful objects, for which research on colour palettes is crucial. Her signature features are the combinations of unusual, bright colours and research into archetypal shapes. She opened her studio in Rome in 2020.

Interview

©Arianna De Luca

©Arianna De Luca

What is your educational background?: I studied industrial and product design in London, then worked as an interior designer, specialising in hospitality spaces such as bars, restaurants and hotels. After leaving London, I spent a few months in Abruzzo where I visited the ceramic workshops and factories of Castelli, learning as much as possible.
Why did you choose ceramics?: Having grown up near Castelli, famous for artistic ceramics since the Renaissance, I have always been curious. After years as a designer, I needed to be the one producing my designs. I also wanted to delve deeper into ceramics, since it is part of my territorial heritage and it was also the right material for the research on tradition I wanted to do.
What are your sources of inspiration?: I look at memory, at artistic and popular cultural heritage, doing research on the territory and its traditions, on the objects that are part of our culture, on archetypes and the emotional connection we have with them. I then try to translate everything into a contemporary language.
What do you love most about your profession today?: I have learned to love every aspect of it, from the creative development of a concept, to logistics. I love the freedom and variety of tasks and knowledge that this work leads to acquiring. I love the fact that it is continuous learning, on many fronts, whether technical, theoretical, organisational, or research.

Arianna De Luca is a rising star: she began her career in 2020 and she started teaching in 2021