A week long stay culminating in an ancient modern look
By Clay Imports
Clay Imports is not only a tile store; it is a place that facilitates the creativity of designers and builders alike. That’s why we created our Clay SMA Studio: an environment where Clay Imports ceramicists, designers, artists and clients can work together to create not only a product but a holistic experience of creation. On this occasion, we had the honor of hosting designer Amy Pigliacampo on her first visit to Mexico and the pleasure of witnessing her creative process firsthand.
The Clay SMA Residency
We strongly believe in the value of well-developed products and the benefit of collaboration on a personal level with designers and makers. As such, it was important to create a space that honors this philosophy, where creatives find a new avenue for their original works through clay tile and tableware. Thats why, in 2023, Clay Imports opened a ceramic studio and artist residency in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
In this new space, Clay Imports started the Clay SMA Residency program, where our guests will flex their talent on a new medium: tile. Artists work, design, and create their tiles in San Miguel with us and have the opportunity to explore the communities in which traditional clay tile production is practiced. San Miguel de Allende (just voted the No.1 Best City in the World by Travel and Leisure (felicidades San Miguel!)) and neighboring Pueblo Magico Dolores Hidalgo are two fascinating towns in Mexico’s central highlands, renowned for their baroque and vibrant Spanish architecture, thriving arts scene, and cultural festivals.
We invite artists and creatives to this fully immersive experience to witness the unparalleled craftsmanship that goes into each tile firsthand, connect with makers, the creatives at Clay Imports (poolside cocktail hours included), and enjoy the immaculate vibes of San Miguel.
Who is Amy Pigliacampo?
Amy Pigliacampo’s background is in fashion design, where she worked with top brands and creatives across the U.S. After a major life change (the kind that comes with having a baby), she shifted her career focus. Since 2017, Amy has run her Los Angeles-based interior design studio, Amy Pigliacampo Interiors, which specializes in residential renovations, select new builds, and intimate commercial projects.
While this change of work career could sound like a challenge, Amy confirms that the fundamentals between fashion and interior design are essentially the same: “What we do as designers is really an exercise in problem solving. Just like fashion, I always think about the story, who these people are, what the home wants to be, who they want to be and how we can swirl all of that into something that looks incredible, functions correctly and enhances their everyday life and mood.”
"There are so many crossovers between fashion and interiors, much of it is about understanding what is important to a client and creating a space that looks beautiful but also feels personal and tailored"
Amy Pigliacampo visits Mexico
This philosophy, where design and function intertwine, excited us about working with Amy. So we decided to invite her to San Miguel de Allende to work on a new collaboration and to put the “Fun” in functionality!
“To be honest I wasn’t really sure what to expect! I was really blown away by the dramatically different pace of life in SMA compared to home.” Just like Davey of Rock Paper Build, Amy also was relieved about how work in Mexico is more about perfectioning the product and collaboration rather than mass creating to fill a quota.
As a curator herself, Amy highlighted this continuous effort during her visit: “As our world continues to move online, I was reminded again just how much it matters to meet people in real life and spend time getting to know them. I really enjoyed learning about how everyone came to be part of the team and their life experiences before Clay Imports. Collaborations are so interesting because it’s not about any of us as individuals but more about our collective experiences and knowledge and what that combination can yield.”
I feel a much more intimate connection to how the product is made and how much work goes into it and know that I will feel a much different conviction when recommending these to my clients. There is a lot of humanity and soul in these tiles.
A new perspective for a new tile collection
Being part of the tile creation process from the very beginning has given designers and creatives a new perspective about their work as Amy has praised in the creation of her own tile collection: “I was struck by how much skill and artistry is involved in making the product particularly in our age of technology. Technology is amazing but when a home doesn’t have enough materials that reflect true craftsmanship, it can feel a bit soulless.”
“It was so invaluable to be surrounded by the entire line and all of the options. Being able to see the finishes, colors and texture in person was so important and we were able to consider different pairings in order to make sure the offerings felt connected. There is a big difference in seeing one sample vs a complete installation and working in the studio and that was so helpful in terms of visualizing the end usage.”
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