Colombian Artist Brings Magical Realism to Life With Luxury Dinnerware Collection
From the bustling streets of Colombia to the heart of Panama’s art scene, Colombian artist Remedios’ journey has been one of creative passion and strategic vision. Her artwork, fueled by her childhood memories of magical realism, has inspired the creation of a new luxury dinnerware collection in partnership with 4Art Partners: “Into the Secret Garden.”
“Remediarium Primum” takes elements of nature and puts them straight into beautiful dishes, mugs, and other accessories that transform any dinner into an exquisite experience. In an interview with Modern Muze, 4AP Co-Founder Raquel Serebrenik delves into the magic behind 4AP’s latest collaboration with Remedios.
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She shares the inspiration drawn from Latin American magical realism, and the challenges and triumphs of transforming artistic vision into tangible, functional beauty. Serebrenik also shares how this collection exemplifies 4AP’s mission to redefine art patronage in the modern era.
How did the collaboration with Remedios come about, and what inspired the decision to create the Remediarium Primum collection?
I first met Remedios many years ago while we were in Panama, at an artist’s atelier, where we saw an artwork of a beetle. Intrigued, we asked whose artwork it was, and lo-and-behold, that marked our first introduction to Remedios’ art. About 10 years later, as we were starting 4AP, Remedios was one of the first artists who came to mind. I knew and clearly recognized the powerful brand she had built as an artist, and the beautiful stories she conveyed through her work. I reached out to her directly. And here we are.
It’s such a special bond we share—not only professionally, but personally as well. When you work with art, you come to understand someone’s life, history, and values through the work they create. As such, when we partner with artists, they become more than just business partners; we become deeply attached to their work and see them as an extension of our 4AP family.
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Remediarium Primum is a series that Remedios developed many years ago. When artists revisit their earlier series, it’s wonderful to see them reflect on their initial ideas and explore how they might bring them back to life. In Remediarium Primum, we saw beautiful inspiration drawn from medieval quill drawings of fantastical creatures, which Remedios connected to iconography deeply rooted in her Latin American upbringing. This series tells stories of wonder and curiosity, offering a glimpse into Remedios’ journey as an artist.
Can you describe how Latin American magical realism is reflected in the design and craftsmanship of the porcelain dishes in this collection?
Magical Realism is a literary and artistic genre often associated with Latin American writers, with the most famous being the Colombian laureate Gabriel García Márquez and his iconic work One Hundred Years of Solitude. In this book, a character named Remedios is a rebellious figure, and many of her traits can be found in our own Remedios, the artist (see reference here).
In this genre, magical elements are incorporated into a realistic environment, blending the natural and ordinary with the extraordinary and fantastical. It’s not otherworldly; rather, peculiar creatures and events become part of our real world.
Remediarum Primum draws inspiration from medieval quill drawings and intertwines them with Remedios’ upbringing. In this series, we encounter magical icons like flying paper planes, chrysina beetles, and Heliconia flowers; all brought to life within the natural context of a dinner table.
What challenges did you encounter while translating Remedios’ artistic vision into a luxury consumer product?
When 4AP first decided to launch products in partnership with artists, we knew our goal wasn’t simply to take existing artwork and place it onto new products. It never starts with the product but always with the artist’s story. We wanted the products to be true extensions of the artist’s body of work—pieces that are as much art as the canvases themselves. The challenge was: How do we develop a product that not only complements and enhances an artist’s work but is also functional and achievable?
In asking ourselves this question, we realized the power of collaborating closely with artists like Remedios. We turned this challenge into a beautiful example of how art can—and, in our minds, must—extend beyond the canvas and into people’s homes. We didn’t just transfer Remedios’ artistic vision; the product is her creation from start to finish. It reflects her vision of how people can step inside her work and interact with it.
Our mission is to bring the intersection of art and product to life, offering modern-day patrons new and exciting ways to engage with artists and their creations with products that last for generations, just as family relics do.
What kind of impact or experience do you hope the Remediarium Primum collection will provide to consumers beyond being a functional tableware set?
We want people to feel as if they’re eating and hosting guests inside a Remedios mural or painting. As they welcome their guests to the dinner table, we want them to experience the same magic that Remedios felt growing up in her family’s garden in the Colombian countryside. As conversations unfold about the collection, its iconography, and the artwork, guests become immersed in a multi-dimensional experience. What begins as a dinner with friends and family transforms into a 360-degree art experience, transporting everyone back to childhood memories of nature, literature, and food.
Each box contains the story of the series. We want art patrons to read it and feel an instant connection as they open each box to discover a world of art inside. For us, luxury is that moment—when art patrons realize they’re no longer just holding a beautiful plate, but a moment in time, a piece of an artist’s history. They understand that they’ve become part of that story.
How does this collection fit into 4 Art Partners’ broader mission to elevate artists and their work?
This is one of our first in-house collections in partnership with an artist, and we couldn’t have asked for a better collaboration. We are committed to continuing to tell stories through these pieces. Our goal is to become the destination where people come to find meaningful products at the intersection of art—whether through our brand partnerships, licensing efforts, or our very own collections. It’s about living at the intersection of art and products while fostering modern-day art patronage.
We are actively building this series with Remedios and are already planning the next edition for the end of 2025. In addition, we continue to expand our retail partnerships, where you can find 4AP products developed with artists, including the Eternal Drop Menorah with Yoni Alter, launching for the holiday season at the Jewish Museum of New York.
We invite those discerning dreamers and lovers of unique pieces and art to explore 4AP and join us on this journey of growth. Follow our steps and connect with us.
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