Designer Natalia Criado, known for her distinctive metal tableware that blurs the lines between utility and art, has unveiled a captivating collaboration with Laboratorio Paravicini, a renowned Milanese ceramics brand. This partnership, culminating in the 'Metalia' collection, represents a profound dialogue between Criado's surrealist metalwork and Paravicini's hand-illustrated ceramic tradition. The collection will be a highlight of Milan Design Week 2026, presented through an immersive installation titled 'The Invisible Table,' inviting viewers to reconsider the very essence of dining and interaction. This venture not only signifies a creative convergence but also underscores Milan's dynamic blend of rapid industrial progress and deeply rooted artisanal heritage, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary design.
Since establishing her brand in 2018, Natalia Criado, a Colombian-born designer based in Milan, has carved a niche for herself by crafting functional objects that possess sculptural qualities. Her earlier works, particularly her silver-plated metal tableware, often feature whimsical and surreal elements, such as teapots connected at their spouts, imbuing each piece with rich symbolism drawn from personal memories and pre-Columbian ceramics. This distinctive approach makes her collaboration with Laboratorio Paravicini particularly intriguing. Laboratorio Paravicini, a family-run enterprise led by Costanza Paravicini and her three daughters, is celebrated for its exquisitely hand-painted ceramics. Criado expressed her admiration for their meticulous craftsmanship and the enduring, women-led structure of their studio, seeing their artistic lineage as a bridge across different creative dimensions.
The joint presentation, 'The Invisible Table,' is scheduled to take place from April 21-26, 2026, at Laboratorio Paravicini’s workshop in Via Nerino. Wallpaper* recently engaged with Criado to delve deeper into the origins and artistic vision behind this collaboration, her evolving relationship with ceramics, and her anticipation for Milan Design Week 2026. Criado elaborated on how her existing connection with ceramics predates her metalwork, fostering a natural sensitivity towards the material's inherent fragility. Instead of a direct translation of her metal artistry, she envisioned a dialogue where metal elements would act as protective or framing structures for the ceramic pieces, highlighting their delicate nature without concealing them. This creates a compelling tension between robustness and delicacy, transforming each item into both a practical utensil and a sculptural statement.
When questioned about the Milanese context, Criado noted the city’s dual identity—its fast-paced industrial environment alongside its deep artisanal traditions. Engaging with Laboratorio Paravicini allowed her to immerse herself in the slower, more intimate facets of Milanese craftsmanship, feeling less like an outsider referencing the city and more like an active participant in its rich heritage. The collection itself comprises ceramic plates designed by Laboratorio Paravicini, infused with Criado's aesthetic, and complemented by her metal components. These metal elements are not merely decorative but serve to enclose and frame the ceramics, emphasizing their vulnerability and surface textures. Criado explained that the installation aims to evoke an atmosphere rather than a literal table setting. Objects appear to float, detached from any rigid structure, prompting visitors to contemplate the multifaceted nature of a table—as a physical entity, a psychological space, or a nexus of interaction, memory, and ritual.
Criado clarified that her design process was not centered on a specific table but rather on creating a condition: something ethereal and almost imperceptible, where the table exists more as an emotional landscape than a tangible fixture. The pieces are deliberately crafted to embody this tension between presence and absence, utility and contemplation. She views this collaboration not as a definitive conclusion but as an inspiring commencement, marking a renewed and expanded engagement with the art of ceramics, a medium to which she feels a profound artistic connection. Criado eagerly anticipates the vibrant energy of Milan Design Week, which transforms the city into a hub for curious and dedicated individuals. She is particularly drawn to the more intimate, unexpected exhibitions and conversations that offer authentic insights beyond the main stages.
In essence, this collaborative endeavor between Natalia Criado and Laboratorio Paravicini at Milan Design Week 2026 is poised to offer a sophisticated exploration of material interplay and conceptual design. Through 'Metalia' and 'The Invisible Table' installation, Criado invites audiences to reflect on the intrinsic qualities of objects and the spaces they inhabit, enriching our understanding of design's power to provoke thought and emotion.