“Design is continuity between matter and thought, function and emotion are both primary needs.”
Between Form and Function: Where Design Evolves into an Immersive Visual Experience
Clelia Liberti stands out as an artist who challenges the traditional roles of objects by fusing design, emotion, and abstraction into a seamless visual language. Born in 1994, Liberti currently works as a Designer in the Marketing and Communication department of Gruppo Colorobbia, a global leader in materials for the ceramics and glass industries. Yet, her identity transcends her professional title. With academic roots in Industrial Product Design and a Master’s degree in Advanced Design from the University of Bologna, Liberti carved a space for herself where artistry and practicality no longer compete but collaborate. Her work positions objects not merely as functional tools but as visual and emotional experiences that reflect internal narratives as much as they do external purpose.
This distinctive approach emerged early in her career, when she began collaborations with design studios and initiated a personal investigation into the blurred lines between art and design. Her focus consistently returns to the delicate connection between interior life and the surrounding world. Rather than creating products in isolation, Liberti treats each project as a conversation—a dynamic relationship between thought and form. For her, an object is never inert; it carries with it emotional traces, memories, and intentions that speak beyond materiality. Through the “poetry of forms,” she creates compositions and conceptual objects, evoking meaning through aesthetics that are simultaneously bold and refined.
Her artistic philosophy centers on the belief that emotional impact holds equal weight to function. She proposes that beauty, serenity, and personal resonance are not decorative luxuries but intrinsic aspects of how people live with and within objects. Liberti’s practice invites a reevaluation of what it means for a design to succeed. She asks: isn’t eliciting a feeling just as vital as serving a purpose? This open-ended inquiry defines the guiding ethos of her work, pushing against established boundaries and reshaping the conversation around contemporary design.
Clelia Liberti: Balancing Form and Sentiment, Objects Born from an Emotional Vocabulary
At the heart of Liberti’s artistic style lies an elegant fusion of modern sophistication with classical influences, wrapped in forms that prioritize balance, serenity, and emotional clarity. Her designs often draw from the quiet discipline of Asian aesthetics influence, embracing simplicity, fluidity, and restraint. Shapes alternate between geometric precision and organic flow, allowing her to maintain a continuous dialogue between structure and softness. Whether she’s working with dense materials like marble or exploring the reflective potential of glass, each medium is chosen for its capacity to evoke a specific emotional tone. This meticulous attention to form and material gives her creations a strong visual identity that feels both current and timeless.
A signature example of this philosophy is Dalí, a kinetic mirror-object that Liberti presented at the 2025 Salone del Mobile. More than a mirror, Dalí operates as a sculptural invitation for interaction and introspection. Crafted from aluminum and glass, it features both geometric and freely abstract elements, interwoven with symbolic motifs such as a watchful eye. The piece rotates a full 360 degrees and is double-sided, encouraging the viewer to engage with it from multiple perspectives. This participatory dimension turns the mirror into a mutable experience, one that adapts to the emotional state and preferences of the user. Dalí transcends the idea of mirror as utility, instead transforming it into a new experience within the domestic environment.
What makes Liberti’s work particularly resonant is her commitment to maintaining emotion as a core function of design. Her pieces do not merely serve—they communicate. Each project challenges the passive consumption of objects, inviting users to consider how their surroundings affect their mental and emotional states. In a world often dominated by disposability and utilitarian design, Liberti offers an alternative: objects that provoke thought, foster well-being, and resonate on a deeper psychological level. Her art doesn’t decorate space—it redefines how space is emotionally understood.
A Design Language Rooted in Curiosity and Artistic Influence
Liberti’s influences are as diverse as her creative output. Deeply inspired by both historical and contemporary figures, she draws from surrealist artists like Dalí, Mirò, and Magritte, while also absorbing energy from the dynamic world of fashion—citing names such as Schiaparelli, Fendi, Prada, and many others. These sources of inspiration blend seamlessly into her design vocabulary, which emphasizes abstraction over figurative representation. This preference reflects her affinity for works that stimulate immediate emotional response. Architecture, nature, cinema, and street art also find their way into her thinking, contributing to a design approach that is ever-evolving and open-ended.
Her creative environment supports this openness. Rather than requiring specific tools or rituals, Liberti thrives in calm, light-filled spaces where white walls offer a blank canvas for thought. A pen and paper remain her constant companions—essential tools for capturing fleeting ideas. Interestingly, she welcomes distraction, viewing it not as a hindrance but as a gateway to unexpected connections. This ability to reframe disruption as inspiration speaks to her intuitive process and perceptual sensitivity. Her attentiveness to small details allows her to reinterpret ordinary moments into seeds for creative exploration.
Material selection also plays a significant role in her process. Liberti favors materials that speak through texture and weight—marble, metal, glass—each offering distinct expressive possibilities. She treats these elements not only as structural components but as carriers of memory and feeling. While these materials have been central to her past works, she remains keen to experiment further. Future directions include the incorporation of fabrics, resins, and innovative coloring methods. This willingness to continuously shift and experiment ensures that her practice never stagnates but remains in constant dialogue with technology, culture, and her own evolving perspective.
Clelia Liberti: Expanding the Experience of Space
Liberti’s artistic ambitions are not confined to objects alone. She envisions a broader scope in which installations and environments become the next frontier for emotional design. Currently developing a new collection of pieces, she is simultaneously dreaming of larger-scale projects that invite audiences to experience space through the senses. These potential installations would explore themes of perception, touch, and interaction—reimagining how people relate to their surroundings beyond visual aesthetics. By focusing on sensory input, Liberti aims to shift attention toward how space can be felt, not just seen, making her work even more immersive and responsive.
Her past recognitions suggest that this vision is well within reach. With accolades including the Amedeo Modigliani Foundation Award for her installation Guardati negli Occhi, as well as recognition at the Arte Laguna Prize with her project Arianna, Liberti has consistently demonstrated her capacity to merge artistic integrity with public impact. Exhibiting at prestigious venues like the Arsenale di Venezia and the Milan Cultural Centre has solidified her position among emerging artists redefining the role of design in contemporary culture. Her inclusion in international trend forecasts and publications such as DOOR, IFDM, and WGSN further confirms her relevance within today’s global design conversation.
Looking ahead, Liberti continues to move beyond object-making toward experience-creation. Her career suggests a trajectory where design is no longer about creating static forms, but rather about shaping moments, emotions, and environments. She is not content with simply beautifying space; she seeks to transform how it is emotionally navigated. Whether through an interactive mirror, a modern wood inlaid coffee table, or a future installation that challenges sensory perception, Clelia Liberti is crafting a design language where emotion, thought, and matter exist in meaningful continuity.
