We had the good fortune of connecting with Alejandra Rojas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alejandra, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I grew up in an artistic environment. My mom is an artist, and my dad is an engineer so with architecture I always felt I had a bit of both. It also became my biggest challenge to find balance between art and function. This duality is always present in my work in one way or another.

During my architectural studies, I learned how to design by employing digital tools that became crucial in my creative process. They allowed me to output my ideas! Discovering the possibilities of fabrication technologies allowed me to finally bring those ideas into tangible real-life objects.

After graduation, I found that working at architectural firms wasn’t what I expected. There’s a great disconnect between academia and practice and I felt that something was missing. Architecture gave me the tools I needed, but I needed a new way to express myself differently.

I started taking sculpture classes when I came across the process of slip-casting, which is pouring liquid clay into a plaster mold to create a final piece. After researching how I could bring everything together, my husband found a workflow where I could create plaster molds from 3D printed parts. This was a game changer! After a lot of trial and error I found a process that merged all the different techniques I love creating with. I found that working with clay relates more to why I fell in love with architecture in school. Constantly prototyping ideas and working with my hands to turn them into reality allows me to express myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I refused to wear glasses when I was young. I didn’t like wearing them and I got used to seeing everything blurry. When I was curious about something I would get up close and observe all the little details and touch the material, the pattern. I do this even today! I never realized this until a close friend told me that I experience the world using my sense of touch.

I feel like this early experience has inspired my approach to design, discovery through making. Sometimes I even say that “I think with my hands.” This is what led me to where I am today. I’m constantly inspired by the textures, patterns and colors in nature, cities, objects that interact with us daily. My goal is to bring those elements into an experiential object that can tell a story.

I’m now based in New York City, but I’m a Canadian immigrant. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru and I was always surrounded by art and artisanal work. My parents had multiple collections of sculptures, textiles, pottery, and paintings at home. They both took great interest in taking my sister and I to artisanal fairs and museums so we could be exposed to Peruvian culture. It’s fascinating how different cities all over Peru are known for their craft in a specific medium. I visited so many artisanal studios growing up and I always admired watching them work with different tools. My mom always pushed for my sister and I to take summer classes in calligraphy, dress making or wood painting, so we really grew up in an artistic environment with plenty of opportunity to express ourselves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m not a fan of itineraries. I believe when you travel it’s great to get lost in the city and just experience the city as you are exploring. New York City is so full of different things to do that I would suggest picking a neighborhood and putting your phone away. Chelsea is great for art galleries, Little Island and Chelsea Market. You could take the highline all the way up to Hudson Yards and see the city from the top of the Edge.

Depending on where you are wandering in Central Park you could stop and spend some time in a museum. The Upper East Side has the Met, which it’s impossible to see in one visit or even twenty. Every time my sister is in town we go there and it’s always a new experience! There’s the Guggenheim a little higher up and just across the other side you can venture into the Natural History Museum.

If you stop by Williamsburg, you will find yourself in one of the trendiest neighborhoods. All the new rooftop bars and restaurants will let you take in the amazing skyline. The stroll around Domino Park is crowded but worth it. For the ones looking for a bit more space to stroll there’s always Prospect Heights during the Sunset and then heading down to Dumbo. There’s so much to see and do!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m grateful for how supportive my family and close friends are. My mom is an artist and I’ve learned so much from her. Not only technique wise but also how to persevere to get where you want to be. My dad on the other hand, is a civil engineer who would take me from a very young age to construction sites to see buildings get built. My sister is the best, she’s always there when I need her. And my husband, who’s also an artist, understands and supports my practice. He’s been so supportive not only by encouraging me to pursue what I love but also helping me to get where I want to go. I believe their influence led me to choose the path I’m in today and I’m so grateful to have them all helping me along the way.

I’m also thankful for all the close friends that have supported me in various ways and at different stages throughout this journey. I have learnt that there are many “hats” that you need to wear to succeed and having close friends share their expertise with me has been priceless in moving forward.

Website: http://byalejandradesign.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalejandradesign

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byalejandradesign

Image Credits
Benjamin Lucas Decker

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