Candy Valentine//Edition Cf

Please share what you do and why this medium speaks to you. 

I’m a ceramicist primarily making dining ware and sculptural lighting. I love the ancestral connection and being one of a long lineage of potters experimenting with clay. Every piece has it's own personal story and my work is about memory as much as an object to live with.

Where do you find inspiration? 

I mostly look to architects and furniture designers working in elemental forms and materials. I love Schindler & Neutra, and Kahn, Scarpa, Bofill, Tezontle and Ando are all major for me. And of course Eileen Gray and Pedro Reyes. I meditate in nature often and allowing the mind to relax is great for connecting ideas.

How long have you worked in your space? 

Almost 3 years!

What neighborhood are you in? 

The studio is in East Hollywood and I live in Los Feliz.

3 words to describe your work? 

Analog sensorial memories

What are 3 things in your studio that you can’t live without?

Thin, silky plastic bags are perfect for slow, even drying. The stereo system always feels so fancy to me and I love moving between rooms without missing a note. Kuma, my sweet dog, is the studio mascot.

Favorite neighborhood spots? 

Lolo Wine Bar, Jumbo’s Clown Room, Rubycon Records, Hollyhock House.

Favourite piece at the moment? Why? 

I love every opportunity to create with precision and my most recent lighting pieces have really been a joy to explore! I also love making my Barbican vase and playing with the proportions slightly every time. I feel lucky that it’s continued to resonate with so many for a while now.

What do you love about living and working in Los Angeles?

The creative community feels endless. I’m constantly discovering super talented, super inspiring artists. I love being surrounded by lush nature and countless galleries and most nights there’s an event or a band playing that I’m excited to see. It’s kind of paradise for me.

Anything you’re working on? Anything else you want to share please do! 

I’m excited for a group lighting show I am part of for NYCxDesign that opens tomorrow! It’s hosted by Common Things in the East Village, and I’m honoured to be included alongside other artists I’ve looked up to for a long time.