Raised in Nice, France, where she trained at the Villa Arson, ceramic artist Olivia Cognet spent six years in Los Angeles learning to model clay. Now, she’s returned to her native South of France to push her work further. “Here, I feel more inspired than ever. I hope to be able to make the monumental pieces that I dream of,” Cognet says of her move to Vallauris on the Côte d’Azur.
The artist’s new pieces include sculptures, lamps, mirrors, and vases in abstract, organic forms with inspiration drawn from the cultural history of the French Riviera and California flair. Cognet begins each of her designs on paper before shifting to a local clay that’s available in three all-natural shades. Juxtapositions abound in her portfolio of work, with the latest sculptural white stoneware lamps acting as prime examples. Squat bases with geometric shapes emerge in relief, while cut away contours create further dimension in the oversized clay shape. A tall, slender lampshade contradicts the object located directly below, reaching upward in a tapered shape. The rough clay of the heavy bases is accentuated by the lightweight, minimal aesthetic of the lampshades.
Cognet is following closely in the footsteps of one of her largest influences, Roger Capron – one of the most famous French ceramicists of the 20th century who played a big role in creating the art scene in Vallauris, alongside Robert Picault and Jean Derval. From glazed tiles to mammoth frescoes, including one at the Cannes Maritime Station, an array of projects fill his portfolio with passion and diverse approaches to the art form.
The ceramic artist’s old studio, a legendary space in the center of Vallauris, France, was bought and partially renovated by Cognet before she took up residence. Despite the changes that have taken place, she’s made certain to keep the building’s soul intact.
“The feeling of being at home constantly inspires me,” says Cognet, who also enjoys camaraderie with the local pottery community of Vallauris and other artisans within the region. Vallauris captured Capron’s attention decades ago, and now Cognet’s, I think it’s safe to say that there must be something special about the area.
Visitors are welcome to the studio, passing by a stoneware bas-relief abstract form sculpted directly into the ground by Capron as they enter. Cement volutes, influenced by Jacques Couëlle, another major influence on Cognet, leads out to a patio filled with lush, green Mediterranean plants. The outdoor space features a built-in table and a ceramic tiled barbecue, also designed by Capron. Cognet’s on-going plans include eventually adding a showroom to the studio that will integrate ancestral techniques, local heritage, and traditional craftsmanship into her contemporary ceramic practice.
Artist Olivia Cognet
To learn more about Olivia Cognet and her work in ceramics, visit
oliviacognet.com.
Photography by Thierry Lebraly.
