Zanini de Zanine 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Zanini de Zanine
5 Picks from PHILIA Collection
Zanini de Zanine is a Brazilian designer based in Rio de Janeiro, whose multidisciplinary practice spans furniture, interiors, and visual arts.
Working across different scales, his approach is rooted in a continuous exploration of Brazilian culture, materials, and craftsmanship, often engaging both artisanal and industrial processes. His work reflects a dialogue between the natural and the man-made, where organic forms and raw materials are shaped through a refined and contemporary lens.
Building on a legacy deeply connected to design and architecture, Zanini has developed a distinct language that balances tradition and experimentation. His pieces often incorporate reclaimed or sustainably sourced materials, emphasizing a sensitive relationship with the environment while maintaining a strong sculptural presence.
His work has been widely exhibited internationally and is held in major museum collections, reflecting a practice that continues to evolve between object, space, and cultural narrative.
“I’m drawn to the almost instinctive organic quality of this piece. It feels as though it has been sculpted by time, like a small mineral landscape.”
“What compels me here is the radical presence of the material. The piece feels as though it rises from raw earth, almost volcanic in origin, and yet it achieves a remarkable sense of balance and function. That friction between the primitive and the precise is something I continually gravitate toward.”
“What interests me here is the volumetric presence of the piece. The wood, carved almost like coral, creates a dense, ancestral aura where the handmade gesture and nature begin to blur. It reads as sculpture, yet it still carries a sense of delicacy.”
“There is something profoundly beautiful in the meeting between the natural fiber and the dark base. That interplay of rusticity and refinement creates a piece that speaks of territory, of ancestral craft, and of a design language born from the hand.”
“This piece draws me in through its architectural strength. It carries a totemic quality, almost like a small inhabitable structure distilled to an intimate scale. I’m particularly interested when design approaches sculpture and asserts a sense of presence.”