COKI.
COKI BARBIERI
COKI BARBIERI
Material & Craft Artist / Designer — Lives and works in Italy
Coki Barbieri is an Italian material and craft artist whose work is grounded in natural matter and structural thinking. Her practice brings together design, architecture, and material research, focusing on the creation of sculptural objects made from stone and flame-worked glass.
Working from her laboratory in Italy, Barbieri develops a proprietary natural composite stone using Italian mineral fragments and earth pigments. The material is entirely free of cement, resins, or synthetic binders. Each formulation is tested, refined, and stabilised through time before it is applied to form. For her, material research is not an aesthetic layer, but the foundation of responsible design.
Her work is defined by a deliberate choice to step away from industrial processes. She does not work with ceramics or kilns, and avoids energy-intensive production whenever possible. Instead, she draws from ancient Roman and medieval construction principles, where matter is shaped through patience, precision, and an understanding of natural behaviour. The resulting objects are designed to be durable, controlled, and quietly present in living spaces.
Alongside her stone practice, Barbieri collaborates closely with a master glassmaker on flame-worked borosilicate glass. Each form is designed with full awareness of the gestures and constraints of the process, allowing stone and glass to meet in a balanced and intentional dialogue.
Barbieri holds degrees in Architecture and Building Engineering from the University of Bologna and in Interior Design from IED Turin, both with highest honours. She has pursued advanced studies in public space design at Politecnico di Milano, is a certified CasaClima expert in sustainable building, and has completed advanced training in UX research and design. This background informs a practice where intuition is always supported by structure and method.
Her work has been exhibited internationally and recognised for its material innovation and environmental responsibility. Selected presentations include Maison et Objet in Paris, curated exhibitions associated with SaloneSatellite, and international publications on contemporary craft and design. Her first lighting project, Rocklumìna, is part of the permanent design collection of SaloneSatellite and was included in the exhibition dedicated to the most significant lamps from the history of the programme, curated by Marva Griffin. In 2020, she received the Green Product Award in Berlin.
Today, Coki Barbieri continues to develop her collections and research in Italy, creating objects that reflect a balance between experimentation and control, material integrity and formal clarity.
P.IVA IT04373700402
Via Consolare, 148 - 47924 RIMINI - ITALY
COPYRIGHT COKI BARBIERI 2018-2026
