Luca Gruber

"For all my life, I have had an inherent interest in cultures, religions, mythology and philosophy, and through my work, I aim to create spiritual experiences which are sustainable and universally accessible." Luca Gruber was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. Initially trained in Industrial Design, he graduated with a diploma from the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt. Darmstadt was the center of the German Art Nouveau movement, and its shapes, crafts and ideas have been highly influential for his own practice. After working for Bodo Sperlein in London, Gruber decided to deepen his knowledge of the luxury industry at ECAL in Lausanne. As a result, he received an Advanced Master in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship. He continued to work in Switzerland after his studies alongside Ini Archibong and on several projects in the watch industry. In 2022 he decided to focus on his own practice and strengthen his relationship on ongoing projects with various materials and artisans around Europe. "The creation of an object is always a social act. It's not only about me creating an object. It is more about the connection I create between the viewer and the generations of beings which have shaped our perception of how we interact with our world. In Germany, we have a beautiful expression: "Herzblut in etwas hineinfließen zu lassen" (which means to pour your own heart's blood into something). This expression describes the effort you put in your work, and I want people to feel this effort, not only my effort in designing a piece but also the hours of hard work of every craftsman who has worked on one of my sculptures."