Introducing Esther Patterson of Curiousa
people • makers
Now in their fourteenth year, Curiousa design and manufacture hand-blown glass and ceramic lighting from their old mill studio, nestled in Derbyshire’s Peak District. Designer, Esther Patterson, founded Curiousa in 2010 after realising there was a space in the lighting market for modern, feminine and colourful lighting. Keeping their lights all crafted in the UK, Curiousa has gained a reputation for unique, playful and vibrant work - celebrating the imperfect and the hand made.
WEBSITE: curiousa.co.uk INSTAGRAM: @curiousastudio
Words: designeers
September 2018
designeers
Describe your work visually:
esther
Sculptural, eclectic and jewel like glass and ceramic lighting. Combining hand formed, textural or smooth, where colour is at the heart of the work.
designeers
How does the creative process usually begin?
esther
Usually in my sketchbook, or maybe in a piece of clay. I like to physically experiment with shape and colour.
designeers
Any upcoming collaborations or exciting projects you can tell us about:
esther
I’m about to immerse myself in a residential workshop in a local wood with other fellow artists and makers. I did the same last year and it’s an immersive experience where you stay in a YHA hostel which is located in the wood with workshop space and campfire. It's a way of taking yourself out of normal life and rebounding off other creatives. There’s no pressure to produce anything specific - it’s just a space to feel free and get your creative juices to reset themselves and maybe think from a different perspective.
designeers
Sources of creative desire:
esther
An ancient Egyptian or Roman piece of glass or ceramic - preferably dug up from an ancient site by myself (in my dreams). When I view these objects in a museum they look so beautiful but out of place. They come alive when I imagine them being used in their time or being excavated from their resting place.
“When I view objects in a museum they look so beautiful but out of place. They come alive when I imagine them being used in their time.”
esther patterson
designeers
One Curiousa design you shouldn't live without:
esther
There’s one piece in my home that I wouldn’t like to live without and it’s a piece made from our canary glass - a semi opaque vibrant yellow. Even on a rainy day it glows and warms my heart.
designeers
What do you do when you're not working?
esther
Cooking and eating with my family, growing, fermenting, foraging, swimming, running, walking, pub with friends, hanging out with my dog Inga.
designeers
Favourite hotel in the world:
esther
I haven’t discovered one yet! I’m not into posh but could be beguiled by design. Also I love decaying grandeur - so maybe there’s one in Havana that would take my fancy.
designeers
Design hero:
esther
Mother Nature.
designeers
On your coffee table right now:
esther
Design Anthology and The Lemming (my sons political zine).
