Nico Conti’s 3D-printed porcelain sculptures evoke architecture and nature

Maltese ceramic artist Nico Conti came to Crafts' attention when 
he was graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2019. His final project comprised intricate porcelain objects with lace-like patterns formed using 3D printing – glitches in the process created flaws and organic extrusions unlike the uniformity you’d usually associate with machine-made objects or classical art.

Fergus Downey of Alveston Fine Arts, which will represent Conti at Collect art fair taking place on Artsy.net this year, also discovered him at the RCA graduate show. ‘His work was different from any other 3D-printed porcelain that I had seen,’ he says. ‘It was a dance of contradictions: fragile but strong, modern but still nodding to the history of great pottery. It was clear Nico was a bold pioneer of his craft.’

Having mastered his chosen technique, Conti is now raising his ambitions: ‘At the RCA, it was all about experimentation, and
 I didn’t pay as much attention to forms – all my shapes were very simple. Now I am more confident about thinking about elements such as shape and flow. Eventually I want to make larger, more elaborate sculptural pieces composed of smaller sections.’

The works he will show during Collect are influenced by classical ceramics, architecture and nature. ‘There will be traditional vessel forms but rather than being perfectly structured 
or idealised, they will have elements of distortion, collapse and ruin to them –
 some intentional and some accidental.’

Downey adds: ‘Two years later, Nico is
 still a contradiction. Not only does he build and programme computers, he is able to
 use his technical prowess to execute his creative vision and create highly personal and technically ambitious ceramic sculpture.’

Collect 2021 is now live on Artsy.net, with works on view and commissions available until 24 March. Explore more Collect maker profiles online and follow the action on Instagram at @collectartfair.