Marita Setas Ferro Verified listing

In a way, my artisanal experimental past was crucial in shaping my artistic voice. From the age of 10, I was immersed in ceramics at my mother's atelier, learning the importance of touch and the physicality of materials early on. This tactile experience evolved as I explored the behaviour of textiles, garment construction, and the creation of costumes and sets for theatre and ballet.

Later, I expanded into working with more rigid, perennial materials like stone, wood, and metal, each adding to my understanding of how materials can communicate. What truly transformed my practice was the realisation of the freedom that threads worked with needles could offer in sculptural creation. This method not only allowed for the expression of form but also for the engagement of the viewer in a unique way. The softness and flexibility of these works invite touch, creating a sensory dialogue between the art piece and its audience.

I believe that physically connecting with a sculpture, feeling its textures and subtle irregularities, adds a deeper layer of understanding that sight alone cannot achieve. My years in fashion gave me a heightened sensitivity to the combination of materials, colours, and textures, all of which have been invaluable in the development of my soft sculptures. But above all, the act of touching is integral to my work. It completes the experience, inviting a more personal connection between the viewer and the piece, offering a tactile intimacy that allows the art to be fully felt, not just seen.

• Exhibited at Insta Art Centre, Seoul, and Mall Galleries, London (2025).
• Presented the solo exhibition “Anemones in Volcanic Rock” at Open Sesame Jewellery Box, Hotel Indigo Downtown Dubai, in collaboration with Double J Collective Gallery (2025).
• Featured in Art Bridge Magazine for the article “Reimagining Craft as a Vessel for Cultural Continuity” (2025).
• Exhibited and curated “Wearable Art – What is the Third Skin?” at Double J Collective Gallery, Dubai (2025).
• Presented “The Unveiling Within” at Gims Gallery, Chelsea NY (2025).
• Exhibited at “Postlution”, Luminaire Gallery, London (2025).
• Selected and exhibited at the 8th International Art Biennial of Espinho, Portugal (2025).
• Recipient of the Artist of Europe Award 2024, Textile Art Category, curated by Brunella Baldi, Florence, Italy.
• Speaker and Art Curator for “Let’s Talk About Sustainability in Art & Fashion” at Indigo Downtown Dubai (2025).
• Permanent artist with Double J Collective Gallery, Dubai, UAE.