Background
Architect and designer Sophie Dries is a graduate of ENSA Paris-Malaquais and Aalto University of Helsinki. She also studied contemporary art at École du Louvre. After honing her skills at the famed studios of Jean Nouvel, Pierre Yovanovitch, and Christian Liaigre, Sophie Dries launched her namesake studio in Paris in 2014 and opened a second one in Milan in 2017. Her first collection of ceramics debuted at Salone Del Mobile in Milan, and her subsequent collections were showcased at many international fairs including PAD London, Collectible in Brussels, and The Salon Art + Design in New York. Besides designing limited editions of furniture focused on craftmanship, and working as a stage designer, Sophie is spearheading an array of residential and commercial projects.
Signature Style
Striking the perfect balance between luxury and comfort, Sohie Dries’ aesthetic is defined by elegance, authenticity, and boldness. Sophie Dries deeply values exceptional materials and superior craftmanship, merging traditional craft techniques and innovative know-how. Moreover, her special affinity with Arte Povera and its exploration of simple, natural materials, informs her creativity and her desire to embrace sustainability. Seeking to achieve the “cosmic essence of matter”, a concept expressed by Brancusi, she creates custom-made furniture and spaces that reflect the client’s personality.
Showstoppers
Traces, a collection of rugs and objects first unveiled at the “Jorn Utzon Foundation” – Villa Can Lis in Mallorca. With Traces, Dries evokes the “scars” left on the surface of clay when fired into ceramic. The designer plays with traditional craft techniques and the contemporary treatment of forms through radical proportions and raw materials – oxidized steel, patinated brass, unvarnished black stoneware. Glow is striking collection of lighting fixtures made of blown glass, brass, and paper. The juxtaposition of these dissimilar materials creates a kinetic balance between organic and geometric, between natural and artificial, suggesting the possibility of harmonious coexistence.
