Rooted in the reinterpretation of indigenous crafts into atypical sculptural and functional art, Vahe was founded by Vaishnavi Walvekar—an artist and formally trained Industrial Designer with an MFA from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Vāhe brings a distinctive voice that bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary expression. The studio made its debut at Salone del Mobile in 2022. ​

 

Vahe’s signature medium of papier-mâché offers a contemporary take on an age-old craft finding new expressions with modern abstractions. Each piece is meticulously hand-sculpted in India using waste paper pulp and natural binders—honouring both material integrity and the environment. The works are synonymous with the craft’s sustainable and slow production. The recent Brass Ensemble [2024] marks a bold  departure from conventional welding practices by turning the process itself into a focal point—celebrating, rather than concealing, the welding slag through exposed checkered patterns across the sheet. 

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Recent creations explore a fabric deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Maharashtra, the state I hail from — exploring the cross-pollination of methods from one craft to another, in this case using the natural binder of papier-mâché to softly arrest the fabric in a deconstructed series. The series also employes sheet brass that is integrated through indigenous crafting methods of weaving and hand-nailing the metal directly onto the papier-mâché forms.

 

Since its debut, Vāhe’s work has been carried by leading international platforms such as 1st Dibs, Movimento.Club, The Artling, Atrum in Saudi Arabia. and has been featured on numerous publications such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Design Anthology and most recently in Financial Times. 

 

Mediums: Papier-mâché, Sheet Brass & Fabric