Nicole Toldi

Ceramicist

Integrating nature into all practices

Nicole translates the experience she had as a landscape artist into her porcelain creations
The shapes that inspire her collections are always from nature
She built a home and studio deep in the mountains

Nicole Toldi began her professional career as a landscaper, which allowed her to create an intimate relationship with nature. Her instinct and curiosity led her to explore new artistic practices and it is in ceramics that she found her personal fulfillment. Nicole translates all the experience she had as a landscaper into her porcelain pieces, richly reminiscent of nature. Her studio is based high in the mountains of the Serra da Mantiqueira, amidst century-old trees and water springs. There, she allows herself to create freely, experimenting with different techniques, processes and new languages. "I am not tied to a single process," explains Nicole. "Sculpting and modelling new shapes and textures makes me feel integrated within the world," she says.

Interview

What led you to choose this profession?: Before becoming a ceramicist, I worked in landscaping, where the projects I took on were always to someone else's requirements. I felt my creativity was a little tied up. With ceramics, I create freely and intuitively. The shapes that inspire my collections are found in nature, and I maintain a deep admiration and respect for every detail that I find in it.
How important is the artisanal process to you?: I feel that my hands and my mind are connected. It is through the manual work that I materialise an idea that was spontaneously born at another moment in my day. During the artisanal process, we sharpen our intuition and leave the door open for new shapes and textures to emerge, and I am always open to new paths, techniques and languages.
How is your craft linked to the territory?: I need a pleasant, peaceful and inspiring environment. That is why having a studio hidden away in the mountains of the Serra da Mantiqueira directly influences my creations and my creative process. I source locally and recycle the clay that I use, as well as all the material used in the packaging process.
When did you open your own studio?: Since the first class I took in 2006 I felt the need to have a space that I could call my own to create freely. I had a desire to spend more time alone with the clay. Since moving to São Bento do Sapucaí in the midst of nature, I built a bigger studio. Here I have found my own rhythm and my daily life flow more organically, as do my creations.

Nicole Toldi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2006