Elena Milani designs and creates artistic ceramics for interiors and gardens. Her entire production is divided into series of ceramics, each rooted in a central concept that is developed to create unique, entirely handmade pieces.
Each series draws inspiration from themes related to nature: plants, seeds, soil, leaves, fruits, insects, and more, aiming to tell the story of the natural world through organic forms. Her work with shapes and volumes is a process of subtraction, seeking an essence that evokes rather than describes nature. This narrative unfolds in multiple directions: it reflects on the significant anthropogenic impact on ecosystems, almost as an alarm call, while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world, driven by its distinctive life force. Each narrative direction ties into the artist’s past or present experiences, serving as an emotional tribute to a natural world that is close, necessary, and akin to us.
Elena Milani’s ceramics are fired in an electric kiln, always fully loaded and powered in part by solar energy. The clay scraps from production are continuously recycled, producing no waste, and sediment from wastewater is repurposed. Water use is minimized through basin systems where tools are cleaned multiple times with the same water. No ceramic glazes containing lead, cadmium, or potentially toxic materials are used; every raw material is carefully selected and evaluated.
To avoid waste, each new production process is meticulously studied and tested in the kiln, with appropriate time allocated for optimal technical results. There is no storage; ceramic production is limited to a few pieces, made-to-order as needed. Ceramics are shipped and transported using only recycled packaging and are sold directly to the customer in cardboard packaging.
