Explore Denver-Based Artisan Nina Nino's Latest Tile Collab

Colombia-born and Denver-based artisan Nina Nino experiments with materials to produce unexpected, elevated results that she applies to tile, furnishings and more. Here, she gives us the lowdown on her process and inspiration, her recent tile collaboration with Aurora’s D&W Ceramics and her upcoming designs.

How do you approach materials?

My philosophy is to challenge the ways we use common materials like wood, clay and leather to reveal new possibilities. The experimentation process is a conversation, because I take an action (cutting, dyeing, molding, etc.) and the materials respond by showing new possibilities that intrigue me and direct my next step. It feels magical in a way. For the Trails Collection with D&W Ceramics, I wanted to create an artful product with a concept and narrative: a tile that tells the story of hikes and adventures in different landscapes.

Tell us about your furniture pieces.

I consider my furnishings to be functional sculptures. For instance, I wanted to create a cabinet that appears heavy due to its size and the complexity of the structural leather, but is unexpectedly light since the leather is hollow. And my mirrors belong to a collection called What Remains and What Goes, which uses wood as an exploration of time and memory.