BODW 2024 Exclusive: Contemporary art furniture with Valérie Maltaverne

Valérie Maltaverne takes great pride in showcasing her creations, each carefully designed with inspiration drawn from history and tradition

Being the founder and artistic director of YMER&MALTA, Valérie embraces the challenge of reinterpreting traditional decorative art using materials like marble, leather, marquetry and tapestry through phenomenal individualistic techniques. This results in unique, modern pieces that are firmly rooted in contemporary design, and yet they also carry the essence of time-honored craftsmanship.

After a successful career in audiovisual production, Valérie founded YMER&MALTA in 2009, an art furniture house that combines the French tradition of excellence with a fresh, innovative approach. From concept to creation, she oversees the entire creative process by working closely with designers and craftsmen in a collaborative environment. This distinctive method has allowed YMER&MALTA to carve out a unique niche in the furniture world, blending design, art and immaculate craftsmanship into one cohesive vision.

At BODW 2024, Valérie gave a keynote on honouring French artisanship and what processes that usually involves. Here is an exclusive short interview with the YMER&MALTA founder and artistic director:

What were the central principles of your keynote?

As founder and artistic director of the YMER&MALTA studio, I’m always delighted and proud to present our work. Our collections, and our works in general, are the result of meticulous, passionate and extremely conscientious work. Inspired by history, tradition, materials and nature, no detail is left to chance. Our guiding principles are expertise, craftsmanship and delicacy.

What's something the business of design world can takeaway from your keynote?

YMER&MALTA carries a message of total deference to French savoir faire, to the work of the hand, to the passing on of skills and techniques. To create the art furniture of the future with the tools of history, to prove that tradition and culture are the allies of modernity and by no means its eternal opponents. Our creations are inspired by nature, by the elements, by all the poetry that surrounds us and that we sometimes forget to appreciate. Our aim is to celebrate this beauty, which is as perceptible as it is elusive.

Moving forward, how can these ideas be practically achieved?

We work closely with our craftsmen on a daily basis, progressing together in close contact with each other. Our vision and creativity go hand in hand with their skills and expertise. In this way, side by side, we meet the crazy challenge of creating innovation within tradition.