VERÓNICA MAR

Ateliers Courbet is pleased to unveil new works by Verónica Mar in her inaugural exhibition. On view at Ateliers Courbet, 134 10th Avenue, NY, NY 10011, from June 13–August 15, 2025, this long-awaited exhibition both culminates several years of collaboration between the Spanish artist and Courbet, and marks her first solo exhibition in the United States.

For this occasion, Mar and Courbet will unveil a series of functional sculptures that explore the literal and symbolic notion of water as a powerful natural force and essential element— one that carves, marks, and shapes both the surface and depths of the earth. This inspiration translates into fluid forms and organic curves that evoke the movement of receding waves, formations etched by long-vanished currents, or the silhouettes of water droplets that malleably mold one another as they cluster and merge.

“Water is a force that shapes our world. It is movement, it is fluid yet powerful—an element that holds memory, transforms matter, and connects us all.”

— Verónica Mar

The Madrid-based artist has built a comprehensive body of work deeply informed by the Mediterranean landscape in which she grew up and where she continues to live and work. Stemming from her fascination with sacred geometry and the profound dialogue between nature and human-built environments, each of Mar’s creations physically embodies the seed of its inspiration. Working in close collaboration with a team of local artisans outside Madrid, each of the artist’s series is meticulously handcrafted using time-honored techniques. This latest series emerged from a new collaboration initiated by Courbet, which brought the artist to the Dolomites region of Northern Italy, where she worked closely with master woodcrafters Elia Salcher and Moritz Ploner of Atelier 3DW.

Also crafted by Salcher and Ploner, the Mayu coffee table was carved from a single solid cedar trunk with a soft, wave-like form that evokes the constant and cyclical movement of water. The name of the piece derives from the Quechuan word for “river” and evokes indigenous reverence for the sacredness of flowing water. The natural aroma and noble structure of the cedar wood gives the piece a warm and grounding presence.

The exhibition centerpiece, the Vortex Table, is a sculptural dining table inspired by the rising form of energy and is meticulously crafted from 150 -year- old Siberian oak. The remarkable base resembles tree trunks winding in ascending spirals, elegantly conveying the essence of nature’s growth and relentless journey toward the sky. This piece epitomizes Mar’s artistic philosophy of creating objects that serve as conduits for positive energy and transform environments.

The exhibition will also introduce Mar’s latest Drops series: organic nesting tables and chairs inspired by the malleable silhouettes of clustered water droplets, drawn from the artist’s childhood memories of staring at concentric circles created by rain on water surfaces. The Drops’ rounded forms, carved in wood and marble by Mar’s local artisans in Spain, carry a compelling tension between the solid nature and weight of their materials and the lightness and fluidity of their water-inspired silhouettes.

Across materials, artistic research, and series, Mar’s work is deeply rooted in the transformative nature of organic matter and its symbolism throughout history and civilizations, as expressed through sacred geometry and ancient philosophies. The artist draws inspiration from the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequences found throughout nature—from DNA strands and plant growth to the movements of waves and planetary orbits in the galaxy. This universal language of proportion informs pieces that feel inherently balanced and harmonious, resonating on a subconscious level to evoke a sense of peace and connection.