Meet Valeria Maldonado

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Valeria Maldonado. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Valeria, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found purpose by reconnecting with myself and looking inward to integrate my existing abilities into my art. Unsatisfied with my experience in architecture and its patriarchal demeanor, I felt compelled to reconfigure architectural dynamics and explore how we inhabit space from a feminist perspective. This led me to find textiles as a medium to recreate architecture under my lens, revealing the parallels between the two disciplines and driving me to create this symbiosis both physically and conceptually. This exploration captivated me, leading me to create self-supporting or sculptural textiles that create space within themselves. Simultaneously, my fascination with traditional crafts, sustainable practices, and my Peruvian roots guided me toward creating work that merges traditional low-tech techniques with a contemporary or even futuristic take on how we inhabit design and space.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am Valeria Maldonado, a Peruvian-born artist and architect based in NYC. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts in Textiles from Parsons School of Design, I have established myself as a textile sculptor whose work centers on weaving’s ability to shape three-dimensional forms.

Drawing from my architectural background, I am fascinated with creating self-supporting textiles, which open possibilities for unexpected structural shapes and the creation of internal space. I combine weaving, sprang, basketry, coiling, natural dyes, and clay to create duality within my sculptures, often using coarse materials contrasted with delicate open grids. My Peruvian heritage informs my material approach and is centered on natural elements ranging from alpaca, junco, sisal rope, and rattan to clays, ochres, sand, and natural dyes. These material combinations allow for structure and plasticity.

My work is both analytical and nostalgic. By inspecting themes around containment, inhabiting space, and the maternal strength of nature, I craft sculptures that portray different environments within themselves, often incorporating principles to reconfigure architecture from a feminist point of view. Simultaneously, I find inspiration in my childhood, the earthy tones of my brick-colored apartment, my mother’s teal eyes, and the scenery of my coastal hometown in Lima. The dynamic relationship between the ocean and the rocks, and their contrasting yet complementary qualities, inspire me to explore the interplay of fluid caves and structured waters.

In my process, I have discovered a specific way of creating organic, fluid volumes almost in movement, a sensation that I can only achieve with textiles. The natural fluidity and tension from the fibers, combined with more rigid elements like clay or resin, result in my unique vessels. Textiles have the capacity for unexpected and almost melted volumes that appear willing to change but are strong in their point of view. My practice lies in the quest to create these specific structural yet fluid forms that I call “Gentle Structures.”

With my work, I aim to challenge notions of what is flexible versus what is structured. My pieces are catalysts for thinking about how we inhabit space and envision potential transformations of our environments if we return to primordial or maternal womb-like forms.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are being explorative and unafraid of failure, brave enough to change my path to the one I envision for myself, and always being authentic with my work, sharing my message through my unique combination of experiences.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with communities or individuals who are open to discussing traditional techniques and the value of handcrafted objects in our current society. Exchanging handmade knowledge and passing it through to newer generations is incredibly important to ensure this knowledge does not die. I am eager to collaborate with designers, fellow artists, and writers to explore how handcrafted, low-tech techniques can help us reconnect with humanity in a world of rapidly growing AI.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.valeriamaldonado.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriamaldonado_studio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-maldonado-morales/

Image Credits

Photo Credits: Jason Greenberg