Philia
Magazine
Maria Loram 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Maria Loram is a ceramic artist based in California whose practice explores the space between the organic and the cosmic through sculptural and functional ceramic works. Born in Russia and shaped by a multidisciplinary background spanning science, linguistics, yoga, and visual art, her work is deeply informed by Eastern philosophies, wabi-sabi aesthetics, and an ongoing fascination with material transformation.
Working with clay, paper, and experimental glaze techniques, Loram creates textured forms that evoke weathered landscapes, celestial surfaces, and artifacts shaped by time. Her process combines wheel throwing, handbuilding, glaze research, and painterly surface experimentation, resulting in pieces that feel both minimal and emotionally resonant.
Since returning to ceramics in 2022, Loram’s work has been exhibited internationally and featured through galleries and collections across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Alongside her studio practice, she has participated in artist residencies, taught workshops focused on glazes and textures, and continues to explore ceramics as a language of touch, impermanence, and quiet contemplation.
Aver Design 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Jefferson Aver is the creative force behind Aver Design, a Brazilian artist whose work is driven by continuous research and experimentation. He seeks to uncover the essence of each material, using it to express a wide interpretation through lighting and objects. The brand is dedicated to creating sculptural pieces that move between art and design, tradition and modernity, with a focus on local materials, especially Brazilian natural stones.
Marthine Spinnangr 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Marthine Spinnangr is a Norwegian designer and sculptor based in Oslo whose practice explores the relationship between sculpture, craft, and functional objects. Inspired by the quiet beauty of the coastline—weathered shells, softened stones, and the gentle movement of water—she develops intuitive forms that emerge through a tactile and contemplative making process.
Working primarily with ceramics, Spinnangr creates handcrafted sculptures and collectible objects that balance sculptural expression with everyday function. Rooted in a dialogue between art and design, her work celebrates organic forms, material sensitivity, and the subtle poetry of the natural world.
Fernando Mendes
Fernando Mendes is a Brazilian architect, designer, and woodworker born in São Paulo and based in Rio de Janeiro. Working primarily from his atelier in Vale das Videiras, he creates furniture and objects that combine traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary design sensibility. Having spent more than two decades in the field of fine woodworking, Mendes uses wood as his principal medium, balancing artisanal techniques with innovative processes.
Characterized by a deep respect for materiality, his work embraces the natural imperfections, textures, and unique qualities of wood, resulting in pieces that are both timeless and authentic. Alongside directing his atelier, Mendes serves as president of the Sergio Rodrigues Institute, continuing the legacy of the renowned Brazilian designer with whom he collaborated closely for over thirty years. His work has received numerous international accolades, including the iF Design Award, Designpreis Deutschland, and the Museu da Casa Brasileira Award.
Dust and Form Picks From Philia Collection
Dust + Form is a Vermont-based design studio founded by ceramicist and designer Brielle Rovito. Working across sculptural ceramics, vessels, lighting, and functional objects, the studio explores the relationship between materiality, form, and the rhythms of the natural world.
Rooted in an appreciation for transformation and impermanence, Dust + Form creates pieces that balance rawness with refinement. Drawing inspiration from cycles of growth, decay, and renewal, the studio’s work reflects a poetic approach to craftsmanship, resulting in objects that encourage presence, reflection, and a deeper connection to everyday rituals.
Aver Design
Jefferson Aver is a Brazilian artist and designer, and the founder of Aver Design. Driven by continuous research and experimentation, his practice explores the expressive potential of materials through collectible lighting and sculptural objects. Working primarily with local materials, particularly Brazilian natural stones, he seeks to reveal the essence of each material while transforming it into contemporary forms.
Moving between art and design, tradition and modernity, Aver creates pieces distinguished by their sculptural presence, refined craftsmanship, and strong connection to materiality.
Karin Amdal 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Karin Amdal is a Norwegian ceramic artist whose practice explores the relationship between contemporary life, personal experience, and sculptural form. Drawing inspiration from everyday observations and broader social reflections, she creates works that function as visual metaphors, translating abstract ideas into quiet, geometric compositions. Rooted in a minimalist aesthetic, her ceramics balance conceptual depth with formal clarity.
Hand-building each piece, Amdal leaves the exterior unglazed, allowing the natural colours and textures of different clays to define the character of her work. Informed by her background as an art director and designer, her practice combines graphic precision, logical thinking, and subtle wit, resulting in contemporary objects that are both contemplative and tactile.
