Photography: Courtesy Agnes Studio
05 / 12 / 2022
Founded in 2017 by Estefania de Ros and Gustavo Quintana-Kennedy, Agnes Studio simultaneously explores, pays tribute to and challenges the limits of traditional craft methods. The creative pair base their practice on creating objects somewhere between art and design.
Ana Rita Sevilha: What was the context you encountered in 2017 that spurred the founding of Agnes Studio? Estefania de Ros and Gustavo Quintana-Kennedy: The studio was created in the pursuit of our professional path and in a very organic way. At the time, we were already contributing to architecture projects, interior design and other areas of design. Designing objects and furniture was what we felt most passionate about. So, we decided to launch our first collection. Since then, our main goal has been to create contemporary objects that contain a narrative, using local materials and working in collaboration with Guatemalan artisans, manufacturers and sculptors.
How do your origins influence the studio and the objects you create? We grew up and lived mostly in Guatemala, so our experiences are naturally informed by both everyday life and observation, its idiosyncrasies, our historical background and 20th century artists and designers such as Carlos Mérida or Efraín Recinos.
As you have already mentioned, you work in collaboration with local craftsmen. How does this work unfold? We work in a symbiotic way, because we are always experimenting with things and within a spirit of dialogue, because we learn from each other. We partner and collaborate on models that allow them to work with other designers, develop their own work and retain their creative freedom.
How do your origins influence the studio and the objects you create? We grew up and lived mostly in Guatemala, so our experiences are naturally informed by both everyday life and observation, its idiosyncrasies, our historical background and 20th century artists and designers such as Carlos Mérida or Efraín Recinos.
As you have already mentioned, you work in collaboration with local craftsmen. How does this work unfold? We work in a symbiotic way, because we are always experimenting with things and within a spirit of dialogue, because we learn from each other. We partner and collaborate on models that allow them to work with other designers, develop their own work and retain their creative freedom.
Your pieces explore and challenge the limits of traditional methods. How do these artisans rise to these challenges? We try to understand how a particular technique might be re-imagined. That’s what happened with the wool fabric in the Lana chair, which was originally intended for rugs, but we were able to adapt it to upholstery. Our artisans approach these processes in a curious and motivated way.
For more information, visit AGNES STUDIO website.
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