Art in Bloom

Shirley Villavicencio Pizango is a renowned Peruvian visual artist currently based in Belgium. She grew up between the city of Lima and the small community of Santiago de Borja, in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Her work portrays scenes from everyday life in Ghent, where family members, friends, and strangers appear surrounded by lush vegetation and geometric forms that evoke Incan symbolism, exp...

Brodie Neill is a globally recognised Tasmanian designer based in London. He works across collectible design, public art, and large-scale placemaking projects. Brodie leads a multidisciplinary studio focused on material innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability, and is the founder of Made in Ratio. He is widely recognised for his environmental advocacy through design, particularly his pioneeri...

As the year comes to an end, so does Season 2 of the Art in Bloom podcast. This season, we welcomed ten remarkable artists from around the world, each bringing their own vision and experience. From Milan to the Andes, and through disciplines spanning textile traditions to hyperreal photography, every episode unfolded as a new journey filled with creativity, powerful stories and meaningful reflecti...

Through her art, Argentine graphic designer and visual artist Maia Bunge seeks to reflect beauty in all its forms, inspired by nature, architecture, and the stories that surround her. She conceives her oeuvre as visual poems that blend the real with the imaginary to create personal universes. In our conversation, she shares how her artworks become reflections of her soul and are conceived as an in...

Argentine visual artist and educator Delfina Bourse’s oeuvre explores the dialogue between form, color, and materiality. By building layers of paint, she reinterprets the pictorial surface and transforms it into a new kind of epidermis: dense, corporeal, and vibrant. In this way, unfolding an expansive universe of color. In our conversation, she shares how, for her, art and life are deeply intertw...

Peruvian multidisciplinary artist Cristina Flores Pescorán’s work explores the dialogue between the body, healing, medical experiences, family memory, and feminism. She expresses herself through textile art, performance, video, photography, ceramics, and installation. Reflecting on her own treatment and recovery, she incorporates pre-Hispanic weaving techniques and dyeing with medicinal plants tha...

North American photographer Benjamin Langford’s practice extends far beyond traditional photography; his hyperreal representations of flowers exist somewhere between image and sculpture. By amplifying scale and shifting perspective, he invites us to contemplate flowers in ways otherwise invisible to the human eye. In addition to this, he creates striking natural scenes where photographs are interv...

Carlos Gómez Centurión is a renowned Argentine visual artist whose work stands out for its deep connection to the Andes Mountains, which he uses as a powerful symbol to express and reflect his roots. Through his paintings, he reaffirms not only his commitment to the Cuyo region but also to the broader cultural fabric of Argentina. In our conversation, he shares insights into his ambitious projects...

Italian multidisciplinary artist Gaia Fugazza has a distinctly hands-on approach, exploring a wide range of materials, chosen for both their tactile qualities and symbolic resonance. While the human body often stands at the center of her practice, her exploration extends beyond the human form to embrace the natural world. Through her art, Gaia seeks to restore a sense of unity among all living bei...

Peruvian documentary photographer Ángela Ponce addresses social issues within the Latin American context, focusing on the narratives of Peruvian Indigenous communities, climate change, extractivism, armed conflicts, and the rights of people with disabilities. In our conversation, she talks about her series ‘Little Giants’ and ‘Guardians of the Glaciers’. She also shares lessons from her years of w...

German artist Susanna Bauer’s practice centers around two key materials: found leaves and cotton thread. Her work explores themes such as the passage of time, the preciousness of objects, and the tension between fragility and resilience. In our conversation, Susanna shares how her meditative works reflect the beauty and complexity of both nature and our inner worlds. Ultimately, her art is a deepl...

Argentine visual artist Martín Reyna’s vibrant compositions explore color, rhythm, and chance. Painting outdoors in Patagonia’s Parallel 42 region, he connects with nature through light and direct perception. His deconstructed imagery creates a universe of color, shaped by water-soluble materials that flow freely across paper and canvas. The only figurative element that has remained constant throu...

Season 2 of Art in Bloom begins with a special guest: Portuguese artist Cristina Ataíde! Cristina describes herself as a traveller—her creative process unfolds through encounters with diverse landscapes and worldviews, as she questions her surroundings and seeks new ways to express materiality and meaning. In our conversation, she shares how through art she strives to express the beauty of the wor...

Art in Bloom A podcast where art meets nature in a journey towards transformative impact. To close this first season, I want to reflect on the incredible artists who made Art in Bloom come to life. My deepest gratitude to every one of you! Listen to all episodes: Andrés Paredes Teresa Marcaida Carolina Salom Gabriela Ezcurra Jacinta Grondona Francisca Sutil Rainer Gross Nuria du Chêne de Vère Jose...

The Argentine architect and visual artist Michelle Dabul invites us to discover her story, from a formation in architecture to a deeply personal artistic path. Her practice began as self-expression following a profound family event, leading her to explore various workshops, including with artist Sergio Bazán. Unknowingly influenced by Japanese philosophy, she connected with materials like ink and...

The Argentine biologist and paper artist Josefina Stagnaro shares with us her journey from her academic background in biology to her transition into art. Her artistic career began when she established a studio in her father's silversmith workshop in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina. Her passion for nature and biology is reflected in her handmade paper sculptures, where each piece showcases her conn...

The Italian-Spanish perfumist Nuria du Chêne de Vère and founder of Atelier Nur invites us into the world of perfumery. She shares her journey—from a childhood shaped by the contrasting scents of nature and fine fragrance, to studying in Grasse, France, and ultimately launching Atelier NUR in 2021. Her exclusive line of 100% Italian-made fragrances transform everyday objects into true works of art...

The German visual artist, photographer and musician Rainer Gross invites us on a journey through his artistic evolution, from his childhood finding expression in drawing, color, and nature, to his bold move to New York City in the 1970s. Enchanted by the city's energy and artistic vibrancy, he immersed himself in its creative scene—playing drums in a band, and assisting artists like Robert Motherw...

The Chilean visual artist Francisca Sutil reflects on her artistic journey, from discovering the transformative power of color to crafting her unique abstract visual language. She recounts her move to New York in the 1970s, where her exploration of handmade paper techniques shaped her creative process, alongside encountering the influential works of artists like Mark Rothko and Ellsworth Kelly. He...

The Argentine sculptor, visual and textile artist Jacinta Grondona reflects on the influences that shaped her creative journey and the discovery of her artistic voice through sculpture. Her organic forms center on themes of sexuality and fertility, often featuring motifs like unicorn horns, births, female figures, and vibrant, translucent eggs. Motherhood and her personal experience as a mother ha...

The Argentine visual artist and ceramist Gabriela Ezcurra invites us to connect with nature through her art, inspired by the vibrant landscapes of the jungle and forest. Shaped by her experiences in both America and Europe, her work strives to capture the strength and vitality of nature, aiming to inspire a deep love for it in the viewer, and in turn, encourage its preservation. Although she began...

The Colombian textile artist Carolina Salom invites us to return to our origins. Her textile work is deeply connected to nature, inspired by the landscapes of her childhood in Colombia, where the mountains transform into rivers and plains. Through materials like wool, which represents a symbiosis between humans and sheep, Salom explores healing and the slow rhythm of artisanal weaving. In her crea...

The Argentine dancer and choreographer Teresa Marcaida shares how dance has been her form of expression since childhood. A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York, she has been influenced by choreographers like Jiří Kylián and the Graham technique. Deeply marked by Pina Bausch, who selected her to perform one of her solos at the Biennale di Venezia, she also counts Jacopo Godani as a major me...

The Argentine visual artist Andrés Paredes invites us to explore his childhood in Misiones and the profound influence of the Atlantic Rainforest on his art. His works reflect the jungle's vibrant greens and red soil, key elements that shaped his identity. Using insects like butterflies and cicadas, he delves into themes of transformation and life cycles. His art transcends aesthetics, incorporatin...

I’m Alexandra van Peborgh, art historian, nature enthusiast, and founder of AVP Art Advisory. Welcome to my very first podcast! In this solo episode, I’ll introduce myself and share the story behind Art in Bloom.  Each episode features in-depth conversations with artists from around the world, diving into their creative process, motivations, and the impact of their surroundings. We’ll uncover what...