A Ceramicist’s Incredible Home in San Jeronimo

Images by Ana Laframboise

This week, the IN BED Journal is back in Mexico City to meet talented ceramicist Perla Valtierra. With a love of exploring new techniques, crafts, and cultures, Perla has spent over 15-years honing her craft; drawing inspiration from her extensive travels and studies in Paris, Kyoto, and Brussels. Perla is a true aesthete with an unwavering vision to create pieces that are made to last a lifetime. We spoke with Perla about her creative process, her latest project, and her deep appreciation for her sunny home in San Jeronimo.

“I feel very lucky to live in this house. I moved in three years ago, just before the pandemic started and have been here ever since. It’s an oasis in the city and feels like a hideaway from the busyness of everyday life; it’s also situated next to the only un-tubed river in the city. When I’m at home it feels like I’m on holiday, which is such a nice sensation for life in a big city.”

When I’m at home it feels like I’m on holiday, which is such a nice sensation for life in a big city.

“I really love my bedroom because it’s full of natural light and has a view to the back terrace of the house; from bed I get an amazing view of Mexico City and the mountains beyond.” 

Perla’s bed is dressed with IN BED 100% linen in Kohl.

“San Jeronimo is a very residential part of Mexico City. It’s quite far from the popular Condesa Roma area but I love that it’s tucked away in a quieter neighborhood. In 20-minutes by car I can be in the national park which feels a world away from the city. The national university campus is also close by and I enjoy spending time walking around it on weekends.”

“There are so many special pieces of art and objects in this place, however, a collection of photographs from my dad are particularly precious”.

There are so many special pieces of art and objects in this place, however, a collection of photographs from my dad are particularly precious.

“I began studying ceramics at university as part of my industrial design course. The ceramic lab was my last class before graduation and I won a prize with the project I submitted… and from there it all started! For a long time I made ceramics simply because it’s what I loved doing with no desire to start a business.”

The table is dressed with IN BED 100% linen table cloth in Natural.

“I started creating commercial editions around 2008, so it’s been 15-years now. During this time I spent a decade in Europe and a year living in Japan, so it’s been a lot of learning abroad. I love discovering other cultures and meeting like-minded people. Since being back in Mexico, it’s been great to be able to fully focus on my work here.”

“My most recent body of work is called Xalli, a collection of glass vessels that I designed for Nouvel Glass Company here in Mexico. The collection comprises two small sizes in unlimited edition and 4 larger sizes in limited edition, numbered 100 pieces each.

The word Xalli means sand in Náhuatl, and alludes to the fact that the pieces are produced in sand molds. The technique was used in ancient Egypt and is called “sand casting”, in which the glass is deposited and blown in a print previously marked in sand. It's handmade manufacture and the peculiar texture that remains on the surface makes them unique pieces.”

“Sustainability is something I think about in my everyday life as well as when creating products. We always try to use local clays, which means the clay is not processed industrially and we will also never over produce. We make almost all of our pieces to order and it’s our hope that the objects we create will last a lifetime.”

Perlavaltierra.shop
@perlavaltierra