PHILIA MAGAZINE

Vincenzo De Cotiis is an Italian architect, artist, and designer born in Gonzaga in 1958. After studying architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, he founded his studio in Milan, where he continues to live and work. His practice is defined by a distinctive dialogue between past and future, blending cultural memory, raw materiality, and experimental forms through a highly expressive and collectible design language.

Working at the intersection of art, architecture, and design, De Cotiis creates sculptural pieces that combine reclaimed materials with reflective and futuristic surfaces. His works are known for their singularity and tactile depth, balancing imperfection with refinement.

His creations have been exhibited internationally through leading galleries and fairs, including Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Art Basel, Design Miami/Basel, PAD London, TEFAF, Frieze, and The Armory Show. In 2019, his work was presented at Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City and at Ca’ d’Oro during the Venice Biennale.

Verónica Mar is a Spanish sculptor, designer, and artist based in Madrid, whose multidisciplinary practice explores the intersection of nature, spirituality, and collectible design. Trained in both Interior Design at EINA School and Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona, she works across sculpture, functional art, painting, jewelry, and collectible furniture, creating organic forms that seek to reveal the essential beauty and harmony of the natural world. Since 2007, her work has been exhibited internationally at galleries and institutions including Rossana Orlandi, Les Ateliers Courbet, Mint Gallery, and The Wolfsonian Museum, while collaborations with brands such as Porcelanosa, Cosentino, and Tribù have further expanded her practice.

Guided by a search for balance, simplicity, and material authenticity, Mar creates sculptural works distinguished by fluid forms, refined craftsmanship, and a deep sensitivity to space. Inspired by nature and organic geometry, her practice transforms sculpture and functional objects into contemplative pieces that invite moments of stillness and connection, blurring the boundaries between art, design, and the lived environment.

Jean-Louis Deniot is an internationally acclaimed French interior designer known for creating richly layered interiors that balance spontaneity, elegance, and contemporary sophistication. Recognized for his eclectic and highly atmospheric approach, Deniot combines classical training with a bold and expressive design vocabulary, developing spaces that feel both refined and deeply personal.

Working on projects across the globe, his portfolio includes private residences in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, London, Moscow, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and New Delhi, as well as large-scale hospitality and residential developments such as the Waldorf Astoria New York residences and amenities.

In addition to his interior architecture practice, Deniot has developed celebrated furniture and lighting collections in collaboration with brands including Baker Furniture, George Smith, and Pouenat.

Valérie Chomarat is an architect and designer known for her serene and highly refined approach to contemporary living. Working across projects in Geneva, Menorca, Bandol, and Warsaw, her villas, chalets, fincas, and yachts are defined by a sensitive balance between architecture, landscape, and atmosphere.

Deeply influenced by her childhood in the Ardèche and by Japanese architecture, Chomarat approaches each project through ideas of perspective, threshold, light, and connection to nature. Her work is rooted in careful preliminary studies and hand sketches, allowing geography, climate, history, and purpose to shape the design process.

After studying architecture in Lyon, Milan, and Paris, she moved to London and joined the studio of John Pawson, whose philosophy of proportion, space, light, and materiality continues to inform her signature minimalist language today.

Gio Pagani is an Italian architect and designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans architecture, interiors, furniture, and creative direction. Founder of his eponymous studio in Parma in 1995, he has developed a distinctive design language characterized by a refined balance of contrasts—between romance and rigor, luxury and simplicity, tradition and experimentation. Drawing on experiences across design, fashion, photography, and art, Pagani creates immersive environments and collectible pieces distinguished by their strong identity and timeless elegance.

Guided by a philosophy he describes as “disciplined excess,” Pagani approaches design as a synthesis of architecture, craftsmanship, and lifestyle. His work combines cultured forms, rich materials, and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in spaces and objects that are both sophisticated and deeply personal. Through a continual exploration of beauty, emotion, and functionality, he has established a singular voice within contemporary Italian design.

Aaron Scott is a Brooklyn-based designer whose sculptural furniture and lighting explore the intersection of art, craftsmanship, and material experimentation. Working primarily with wood, Scott creates pieces defined by fluid forms, tactile surfaces, and a strong architectural presence, balancing technical precision with an intuitive and highly personal design language.

Originally from the forests of Southwest Oregon, Scott studied art and philosophy before moving to New York, where he worked across sculpture, writing, film, and furniture design. Through Aaron Scott Design, he develops collectible works that merge sculptural expression with functionality, resulting in objects that feel both contemporary and timeless.

Alice Lahana is a French artist and designer whose practice explores the intersection of sculpture, craftsmanship, and functional design. Based near Paris, she creates furniture, lighting, and objects that blur the boundaries between art and everyday use, developing a distinctive language shaped by organic forms, material experimentation, and handcraft.

Originally trained in fine arts, Lahana approaches design through a deeply intuitive and tactile process. Working primarily with wood, ceramics, and natural materials, she creates pieces that celebrate irregularity, texture, and the traces of making. Rooted in a dialogue between materiality and emotion, her work reflects a sculptural sensibility that transforms functional objects into expressive and poetic forms.

Iaku Tateladze is a Georgian artist and designer whose work moves fluidly between sculpture, collectible design, and spatial experimentation. Rooted in a deep sensitivity to form and material, his practice explores the relationship between structure, movement, and perception, creating pieces that balance sculptural expression with functional purpose.

Working across furniture, objects, and installations, Tateladze develops works distinguished by their architectural presence and tactile materiality. Through an ongoing process of experimentation, he investigates how objects can shape experiences and evoke emotional responses, producing a body of work that exists at the intersection of art, design, and contemporary craftsmanship.

Andrea Bonini is an Italian interior and product designer based in Milan. Born in Verona in 1985 and trained at the Istituto Marangoni, he founded his studio in 2014, developing a practice that spans bespoke interiors, collectible furniture, and product design.

Known for his refined and sensual approach to design, Bonini creates spaces and objects distinguished by sculptural forms, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep attention to materiality. Drawing inspiration from his family’s background in metalworking and the marble traditions of northern Italy, his work balances contemporary elegance with artisanal savoir-faire.

Working internationally across residential, hospitality, and collectible design projects, Bonini has become recognized for creating sophisticated environments that blend timeless Italian craftsmanship with a contemporary design language. In 2019, Architectural Digest Italia named him one of its “Seven for the Future,” recognizing him among the leading Italian designers under 35.

John Brevard is an American designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans furniture, sculpture, jewelry, interiors, and architecture. Working across scales and disciplines, he has developed a distinctive visual language informed by fractal geometry, biomimicry, and the patterns found in nature. Through his eponymous studio, Brevard creates collectible pieces that merge sculptural expression with architectural thinking, exploring the relationship between form, materiality, and human experience.

Drawing inspiration from sacred geometry, natural systems, and computational design processes, Brevard’s work balances technological innovation with artisanal craftsmanship. His creations have been presented internationally through galleries, design fairs, and cultural institutions, while his broader practice extends to hospitality, residential architecture, and immersive spatial design. Whether expressed through a piece of furniture or a built environment, his work seeks to reveal the interconnected structures that shape both nature and contemporary life.

Lisa Franzen is an Italian-Russian designer based in Zurich whose collectible furniture explores the relationship between architecture, sculpture, and materiality. Guided by a minimalist sensibility and a deep appreciation for natural materials, she creates timeless pieces defined by clean geometries, refined proportions, and meticulous craftsmanship.

Drawing inspiration from architecture, nature, and the expressive qualities of stone, wood, and metal, Franzen develops limited-edition furniture that balances sculptural presence with everyday function. Through thoughtful material combinations and understated forms, her work celebrates enduring design, tactile beauty, and the quiet elegance of contemporary living.

Claudia Pignatale is an Italian designer, curator, and founder of Secondome, a Rome-based gallery and design brand dedicated to contemporary collectible design. Founded in 2006, Secondome has become a platform for emerging and established international designers, fostering a dialogue between art, design, craftsmanship, and experimentation. Through both curatorial and design practices, Pignatale explores the expressive potential of objects that balance conceptual research with material innovation.

Working across collectible furniture, lighting, and objects, Pignatale collaborates with designers and artisans to develop limited-edition pieces distinguished by their sculptural presence, meticulous craftsmanship, and contemporary vision. Rooted in a commitment to research, storytelling, and Italian making, her practice celebrates the intersection of cultural heritage, artistic experimentation, and collectible design.

Marta Bonilla is a Spanish designer whose practice spans collectible furniture, lighting, and interiors, guided by a refined approach to materiality, craftsmanship, and sculptural form. Working from Madrid, she creates pieces distinguished by clean architectural lines, balanced proportions, and a restrained palette that highlights the intrinsic qualities of natural materials. Her work seeks harmony between functionality and emotion, producing objects that quietly enrich the spaces they inhabit.

Rooted in close collaboration with skilled artisans, Bonilla’s designs celebrate timeless craftsmanship while embracing a contemporary aesthetic. Through thoughtful compositions and carefully selected materials, she creates collectible pieces that balance simplicity with warmth, resulting in furniture and lighting defined by elegance, tactile richness, and enduring character.

Michael Hilal is a San Francisco–based designer whose work explores the intersection of interiors, objects, art, and fashion. Drawing inspiration from the relaxed lifestyle and sun-washed imperfection of California, he creates spaces that feel refined yet deeply approachable, balancing bespoke details with an effortless sense of comfort.

Working across residential interiors and creative collaborations, Hilal’s practice emphasizes individuality, crafting environments that reflect each client’s personality while maintaining a distinct atmosphere of warmth, ease, and understated sophistication. His work often brings together artists, makers, and designers from diverse creative disciplines, creating interiors that feel layered and highly personal.

Michael Hilal’s work has been featured internationally in publications including Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, Galerie Magazine, Dwell, and Veranda. He received the 2022 Showcase Design Award and the 2021 Emerging Designer Award from California Home + Design.