In celebration of
international women's day
we’re spotlighting four prolific Italian artisans whose work includes luxury housewares, from hand-painted textiles to modern ceramics and one-of-a-kind lighting designs. Each is dedicated to preserving heritage craftsmanship, and by so doing, aims to transform everyday living spaces into timelessly sophisticated, beautifully inviting homes.
Coralla Maiuri
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Meet Coralla Maiuri, a ceramic artist whose expressive and vibrant tableware fuses painterly techniques with functional design to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
Swipe to read our interview with Coralla →
Q: Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist and what first sparked your passion for working with ceramics and porcelain?
As a child, I loved playing with clay in the river near my house.
Throughout my career, I’ve explored many different paths, such as oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, artist’s books, small ceramics, velvets, videos, and enamels on plexiglass.
At one point, I felt an overwhelming need to create everyday objects, but since my desire to explore is limitless, I expanded beyond plates and worked on unique pieces, both small and large, using unconventional techniques and materials.
Q: Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve in your craft? Are there any new projects or dreams you're excited to pursue?
All my work aims to subtly yet deeply alter the perception of space: opening a crack towards a loving unknown. In my future, I hope to never betray this need for hope.
We are shyly experimenting with materials beyond porcelain and ceramics, like metal and velvet. My dream is to create a world, and I began by creating a room – La Stanza di Coralla (The Room of Coralla), at the Mia Gallery in Rome.
A kind and sensitive journalist once told me, "You feel protected, yet projected far away!"
I hope my Stanza can be infinite, generating a symphony that is coherent with the deepest and most vulnerable part of myself. A place capable of making those who enter it travel.
Q: Could you describe one of your favorite pieces or collections, such as your Roman Renaissance or Baroque-inspired series? What makes it special or meaningful to you both personally and artistically?
Among the first plates I made, my favorite is L’Apollo Bianco (The White Apollo). It’s like something out of a fairytale; the lapis lazuli blue reminds me of the sky over Bethlehem, and the golden marks along the edge are like slashes from scimitars.
I love Apollo because it features all the new techniques I had to invent at the beginning of this journey, like gold glazing.
Now, I’m happy to leave the Baroque behind, to embrace essential and geometric symbols like in the Impressions line, and even to use solid colors that immerse us in a soft infinity.
Q: What advice would you give to other women looking to pursue a similar path in the world of ceramics and handcrafted art?
My advice is to create things that deeply resemble us. This is not easy at all. It’s a painful search, and all available tools must be used: imitate the classics, imitate a work you envy, and if things turn out ugly... keep going. This is the most important point: the more courage you have to move forward and dive deeper, and to bravely endure a dissonant range of forms, the more the creative process will bring you back to your own path. Reaching this point is a great gift, because your work will reveal things to you that are still unknown.
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Jwana Hamdan
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Founded by Jwana Hamdan, a young Italian entrepreneur of Lebanese origins, JH proposes itself as the first outdoor furniture brand where Italian design know-how meets a cosmopolitan cultural heritage of Middle Eastern inspiration.
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Q: Can you share a bit about your journey as an artist and what first sparked your passion of designing furniture?
My journey in the creative industry began when I moved from Lebanon to Italy, more specifically to Como, a territory celebrated for its rich textile heritage. At that time, my father worked for a company supplying some of Italy’s most prestigious fashion houses, so I grew up surrounded by enchanting silks and intricate embroideries. I naturally steer away from anything that is commonplace or predictable, striving for designs that stand out with their whispered beauty and thoughtful complexity. My passion for design objects originated from their unique ability to enter in people's daily routines yet never lose their distinct presence.
Q: Can you share a bit about your design process? How do you take an idea from concept to final product, and how do you incorporate elements of innovation and craftsmanship into each piece?
The ideas for my collections stem from an imaginative world rooted in my origins and traditions. This connection allows me to maintain a clear and defined vision when identifying new objects to design or stories to tell, in harmony with the brand’s essence. My creative process is guided by an ongoing dialogue between the past and the future. The past inspires me through historical research—whether reading books, watching documentaries, or exploring cultural references. The future pushes me to experiment with innovative materials and new production techniques, ensuring each piece embodies both timeless craftsmanship and contemporary relevance.
Q: How do you see the intersection of Italian and Middle Eastern designevolving in the future? Are there any emerging trends or ideas you’reexcited to explore within this cultural heritage in your upcomingcollections?
This historical intermingling between Arabic culture and Mediterranean cities has left a lasting imprint on the region, significantly influencing the local art, architecture, and cuisine. The new generation, markedly characterized by a fusion of cultures, is shaping global design trends, inspiring designers to think more cross-culturally and integrate diverse influences into their work, encouraging the exploration of new textures, forms, and narratives. Creatives from around the world are increasingly using their art to explore themes of self-awareness and inclusivity, reflecting a growing commitment to social responsibility. I believe our project contributes in a small but meaningful way to bridging cultural divides and igniting curiosity about different traditions, in our specific case the middle eastern one, fostering a global sense of unity while celebrating individual uniqueness.
Q: What advice would you give to other women looking to pursue a similar path?
The best way to inspire others is by being authentic and true so, I’d like to share my personal story: there was a time when I wasn’t fully comfortable embracing my origins, even feeling a bit hesitant about pronouncing my own name, unsure of how it would be received. Over time, through my creative journey, I came to realize that what made me different was actually what made me stand out and be noticed. Our path is full of challenges, but maintaining a sense of gratitude and a positive outlook makes all the difference. There’s a quote from my Arabic culture that gives me strength whenever I need it, and I am happy to share it with all the women who are forging their own paths: “What is meant for you will reach you, even if it’s beneath two mountains. And what is not meant for you will not reach you, even if it’s between your two lips.”
Please visit Artemest.com to explore and shop Jwana's works 🡪
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Luisa Longo
luisalongofiberartist
Meet Luisa Longo, a textile artist whose hand-painted silk creations are known for their vibrant color palettes and tactile, unique designs.
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Q: Growing up in a family of art collectors and studying at The École du Louvre, how did these experiences shape your journey as an artist, and what first drew you to painting on textiles?
My family exposed me to beauty and the world of art from a very young age. I would hear about artists and be introduced to their works. Moreover, my mother was a great lover of music and played the piano. My parents often took me to the opera, and I was fascinated by all the enchantment and splendor. Studying art, therefore, felt like a natural choice for me, as I sensed it would allow me to continue in the world I had grown up in. My encounter with art historian and curator Jean Clair and with art historian and Egyptologist Christiane Dezroche Moblecourt while attending the Louvre School was decisive in discovering fabric as an expressive medium—a passion that was later strengthened by the time I spent at the atelier of Christine De La Haye. Since then, I have never left it.
Q: What challenges have you faced while working with such unique materials like organza, silks, and acrylics? How have these challenges influenced your artistic process or your approach to creating Fiber Art?
Today, I would say that the work I care about most is the latest one, as it represents a rebirth after a difficult personal period. I’m really happy with the new energy it has given me. It’s a second version of a previous piece of mine, depicting a cactus from a village on the island of Crete, a place I’ve been deeply connected to for years.
Q: Could you please share the story behind one of your favorite pieces or collections? What makes it particularly meaningful to you, both on a personal and artistic level?
Today, I would say that the work I care about most is the latest one, as it represents a rebirth after a difficult personal period. I’m really happy with the new energy it has given me. It’s a second version of a previous piece of mine, depicting a cactus from a village on the island of Crete, a place I’ve been deeply connected to for years.
Q: What advice would you offer to other women pursuing a career in the arts? How can they navigate the challenges while staying true to their artistic vision?
I would advise staying humble, working hard and consistently, and never getting discouraged. It’s definitely a challenging career, with its ups and downs, but the key is to follow your heart and instincts, and the results will come. In fact, in such a difficult time in history, women artists must keep going and never give up. I believe they should feel fortunate to have this passion that helps them move forward.
Please visit Artemest.com to explore and shop Luisa's works 🡪
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Patrizia Garganti
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Meet Patrizia Garganti, a master lighting designer from Florence, crafting luxurious chandeliers and bespoke fixtures that showcase artisanal expertise and elegance.
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Q: Throughout your career, you've worked with simple, natural materials to create unique handcrafted pieces. How do you view the role of preserving and evolving traditional craftsmanship, especially in a world that’s constantly changing?
My creative process has always been deeply rooted in the exploration of new ideas using simple materials. It’s a process that not only pushes me to think outside the box but also helps me uncover unique and original solutions—sometimes, these solutions are even more captivating because of their simplicity. This approach has allowed me to experiment with new techniques and continuously evolve my work, encouraging me to expand my horizons.
Craftsmanship, which is at the heart of my training, allows me to turn each project into something precious and one-of-a-kind. Every piece I create is the result of a process that requires attention, passion, and skill. To me, craftsmanship isn’t just a technique—it’s an art that adds value to each product, making it unique and infused with a story of care and dedication. Creating something truly unique with simple materials is a kind of beauty that comes from blending tradition with innovation, and it’s something that conveys genuine emotion.
Q: What obstacles have you encountered while creating your exquisite chandeliers and custom lighting pieces, and how have they influenced your ability to merge artisanal skill with refined, elegant design?
Bringing together craftsmanship and design is always an intriguing challenge, but the interplay between these two worlds is one of my greatest sources of inspiration. Craftsmanship, with its manual skill and traditional value, and design, with its pursuit of innovation and functionality, meet and complement each other. This fusion allows for the creation of pieces that are not only aesthetically beautiful but also tell a story of dedication, passion, and exploration.
The real magic happens when these two worlds merge, creating something that is not only visually captivating but also possesses an essence, a story, and a deep meaning. It’s a process that requires patience, care, and a constant drive to find new solutions, but ultimately it satisfies the desire to experiment, to explore, and to push beyond one’s limits. Each project thus becomes a new opportunity to break conventions, blend tradition and innovation, and bring something truly unique to life.
Q: Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve in your craft? Are there any new projects or dreams you're excited to pursue?
Despite the many years of experience I have behind me, the desire to see my creations come to life is still as strong as ever. My passion for my work has not diminished; on the contrary, it continues to drive me toward new challenges and fuels my desire to experiment. Each new idea, every new project, is an opportunity for me to grow, to look at the world with curious eyes, and to draw inspiration from it.
I share this passion with my children, and I hope to pass on not only the technique but, above all, the love for creativity, curiosity, and perseverance. The true value of work is not just in the final product but in the creative process that leads us to its realization, and this is what I hope they will understand and continue to carry forward.
My creative journey is one of continuous learning, and I hope that one day they will follow it with the same passion.
Please visit Artemest.com to explore and shop Patrizia's works 🡪
