Philia
Magazine

Donatas Žukauskas is a Lithuanian artist and designer whose practice bridges sculpture, design, and craftsmanship. Originally trained in graphic design at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, he spent more than two decades working across animation, advertising, and interior design before turning his focus to collectible objects and sculptural works.

Creating tables, lighting, vases, and sculptures, Žukauskas explores the beauty of imperfection through expressive forms and handcrafted processes. His work reflects a balance between functionality and artistic expression, resulting in pieces that are both poetic and deeply personal.

Elena Vasilantonaki is a ceramic artist based in Athens, Greece, whose practice explores the expressive possibilities of clay through sculptural and functional forms. Guided by a sensitivity to material, texture, and process, she creates works that celebrate the quiet beauty of the handmade.

Drawing inspiration from nature, everyday rituals, and the tactile qualities of clay, Vasilantonaki develops pieces that balance simplicity with a strong sense of presence. Her work reflects a contemplative approach to making, where form, surface, and imperfection come together to create objects that feel both timeless and deeply personal.

Herma de Wit is a Dutch artist based in Amsterdam, where she works between her city studio and a countryside retreat. Before dedicating herself fully to art in 1996, she built a career in fashion and founded her own label, HERMA DE WIT. Drawing on this technical background, her practice ranges from intimate works on paper to monumental sculptural installations, united by a deep sensitivity to material and form.

Nature lies at the heart of De Wit’s work. Through delicate prints of collected leaves, flowers, and branches, she explores the quiet poetry and spiritual resonance of the natural world. Her sculptures, often shaped from clay and earth, pay homage to the elemental origins of life and the enduring connection between humanity and the environment. Rooted in themes of growth, memory, and belonging, her work reflects a profound reverence for the forces that sustain and connect us.

Lupo Horiōkami (b. 1979, Venice) is an Italian artist and designer whose practice bridges tattooing, sculpture, and collectible design. After more than two decades dedicated to tattoo art, including extensive study in Japan, he developed a multidisciplinary approach shaped by Japanese aesthetics, Zen philosophy, and the concept of impermanence. His work explores the relationship between the body, object, and space, translating the visual language of tattooing into sculptural forms and functional design.

Guided by a deep understanding of craftsmanship, materiality, and perception, HORIŌKAMI creates works that balance artistic expression with function. Drawing from architecture, traditional making techniques, and the symbolic qualities of form, his practice investigates how objects communicate through their presence, inviting a contemplative dialogue between design, culture, and the human experience.

Hannes Peer is an architect and designer from South Tyrol, Italy, and the founder of Hannes Peer Architecture, a Milan-based studio established in 2009. Educated at the Politecnico di Milano and the Technical University of Berlin, he refined his approach through collaborations with influential practices, including OMA in Rotterdam and Zvi Hecker in Berlin.

Guided by a philosophy of eclecticism, Peer’s work bridges architecture, interiors, and product design, combining historical references, craftsmanship, and contemporary innovation. His projects range from hospitality and residential spaces to international brand collaborations, all distinguished by a rich material language and a strong sensitivity to atmosphere. Drawing on his background as a trained carpenter, Peer approaches design through both conceptual rigor and hands-on experimentation, creating spaces that balance functionality, sensory experience, and timeless character.

Kevin Frankental is a South African designer and the co-owner and Creative Director of Lemon. Working across furniture and collectible design, his practice is rooted in a profound appreciation for natural materials and the enduring relationship between craftsmanship and time. Guided by an intuitive understanding of stone, wood, and other earth-derived materials, he creates pieces that reveal their intrinsic character while balancing sculptural expression with functional clarity.

Through his work, Frankental explores the idea of timelessness—not as a stylistic pursuit, but as a lasting dialogue between material, form, and making. His designs embrace authenticity, restraint, and permanence, creating objects that transcend trends and celebrate the enduring beauty of nature and craftsmanship.