February 5, 2026

Interview with Sofia Salazar

Sofia Salazar: Revealing the Love and the Creator Within Each of Us

To celebrate the month of love, we invited Sofia Salazar to paint La Maison de Commerce February window display. An artist and designer originally from Argentina who has been based between Barcelona and London for over ten years, she explores a wide range of techniques—from textiles to printmaking, and from illustration to sculpture—with a free, instinctive, and deeply artisanal approach.

For one day, the storefront was transformed into an open workshop—a lively space where passersby could witness the creation, on a very large scale, of a simple and universal scene: lovers exchanging flowers.

Can you tell us about your background? Was there a defining moment that shaped your artistic path?

I’m Argentine. I’ve lived in many countries throughout my life, and this mobility has deeply influenced my work. I studied textile design at the University of Buenos Aires, and over time, my path naturally unfolded between design and art. I’ve always felt freer in this space between the two, which I’ve seen as a true playground for exploration—an invitation to learn and experiment with almost every technique that came my way.

A turning point in my career was a residency at the Icelandic Textile Center in 2016. It was the first time I had been in an environment made up entirely of artists. Sharing that space with them, working day and night without having to worry about anything else, was a profoundly transformative experience. That experience gave me the confidence to take my practice seriously, and it continues to resonate with me to this day.

How do working by hand and interacting with materials change your relationship with an object?

I find joy in anything that involves the sense of touch: gardening, sculpting with clay, creating a linocut, or simply drawing. I particularly love that moment of perfect harmony when my hands and my mind move in unison, in a sort of silent choreography that brings something into being.

I also believe there is something special, something deeply personal, about devoting hours to crafting an object—about giving it that time that is so precious to us.

In my view, this gives it a real depth of meaning. Sometimes I look at a piece I’ve created and see it as a little time capsule, distilling the time that has passed, the thoughts, the mood, and even the music that accompanied its creation.

This involuntary mental record of a specific moment in my life continues to surprise and move me.

In an increasingly digital world, what does it still mean to create something physically, with your own hands?

For me, it’s all about pleasure and presence. I love to touch, smell, and experience the materials around me. I’m particularly drawn to imperfections—those little marks that reveal the human hand in the process. Spotting these traces is almost like striking up a conversation with the person who crafted the object, no matter how far apart we are, whether in space or time.

That doesn’t mean I reject or belittle digital creations. I admire the work of many artists whose practice is digital or industrial. It’s just that making things by hand is a way for me to feel more connected to what I’m doing. That’s how I find joy—in the act of making.

At la Maison de Commerce, we view objects as reflections of our social, cultural, and human contexts. In your opinion, what does an everyday object reveal?

An object can reveal a great deal—both about itself and about its owners. What is its purpose? Where was it made? What materials were used to make it? How long will it last? Who made it, and under what conditions? These questions all tell a story that goes beyond the object itself.

In the same way, the choice of an object says something about us. Some people seek beauty, while others prioritize practicality. I believe that today, in our world, simply having the ability to choose what we buy is already a privilege.

I also think that our relationship with objects changes over time. When I was a child, wearing clothes made by a loved one was common—and sometimes even more economical. Today, I see it as a luxury: the luxury of wearing a piece made especially for you by someone who cared about you and looked out for you. Over time, this craftsmanship has become one of the things I’ve come to appreciate the most.

For the window display at La Maison de Commerce, you painted a couple exchanging flowers. What does love represent in your artistic world?

I see the act of giving flowers as a way of offering beauty, but also as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude for these simple, essential things in our lives.

In my work, love is viewed in a more universal way. It is not solely romantic, nor is it limited to the realm of romantic relationships. It is open. It speaks of interconnectedness and connection, collaboration, friendship, community, pleasure, and care. Love is like a dimension of a shared life, lived with others—those we choose.

Which pieces from La Maison de Commerce resonate most with your aesthetic?

There are so many items in your store that I’d love to have around me every day. I was particularly drawn to the glass bottles, the jugs. And I have a soft spot for anything shaped like an animal, such as the rooster-shaped jugs, or fish-shaped knives. I think these pieces would lend themselves beautifully to a still life. I’d love to have them around me, observe them, and let them gradually find their way into my work.

Interview with Sofia Salazar

Sofia Salazar: Revealing the Love and the Creator Within Each of Us

Can you tell us about your background? Was there a defining moment that shaped your artistic path?

How do working by hand and interacting with materials change your relationship with an object?

In an increasingly digital world, what does it still mean to create something physically, with your own hands?

At la Maison de Commerce, we view objects as reflections of our social, cultural, and human contexts. In your opinion, what does an everyday object reveal?

For the window display at La Maison de Commerce, you painted a couple exchanging flowers. What does love represent in your artistic world?

Which pieces from La Maison de Commerce resonate most with your aesthetic?

COLLECTION Explore the entire collection

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Sofia Salazar: Revealing the Love and the Creator Within Each of Us

Can you tell us about your background? Was there a defining moment that shaped your artistic path?

How do working by hand and interacting with materials change your relationship with an object?

In an increasingly digital world, what does it still mean to create something physically, with your own hands?

At la Maison de Commerce, we view objects as reflections of our social, cultural, and human contexts. In your opinion, what does an everyday object reveal?

For the window display at La Maison de Commerce, you painted a couple exchanging flowers. What does love represent in your artistic world?

Which pieces from La Maison de Commerce resonate most with your aesthetic?

COLLECTION Explore the entire collection