A Chat With Sculptor-Designer Caroline Zimbalist

Posted on December 09, 2021 | by Maria Diment

Walking down Manhattan Avenue, I peer across the street, searching for a special store.

Though hidden, Dusty Rose Vintage wasn’t hard to spot. Entering the narrow room, its walls shelved with antiques and clothing, I spot Caroline Zimbalist.

As she moves forward to greet me, she glides past a display of colourful, translucent glass vases which seem like delicate curtains flowing in the wind, now frozen in time. These vases have been featured in magazines such as Elle Decor, displayed in the Whitney Museum Gift Shop, and are part of the Maiden Name x SSENSE collection. Now they are displayed at Caroline’s pop-up at Dusty Rose Vintage.

The emerging NYC sculptor and designer is paving her way in furniture design and plans on dipping her toes in fashion. My first question for her when we sit down for a chat is, “Where did this all start?”

“I went to Parsons School of Design for fashion originally, and I minored in fine art,” she begins. “I started experimenting with wearable accessories that weren’t made out of fabric but were made out of a tactile, interesting material. I started researching about biomaterials and bioplastics and how I could create my own tactile material to use on the body, and after experimentation, I realized that this material lent itself really well in home decor products.”

When Caroline isn’t designing for women’s clothing-wear company, Rya Collection, she’s busy crafting in her kitchen. “I work with a bunch of different ingredients. They’re all-natural ingredients– plant-based powders called agar powder and glycerin, and essential oils. I cook them on the stove and then pour them over a nonstick surface and within two to four days they harden. From there I’m able to peel the material off and sculpt it over whichever shape I’m making.”

And if she isn’t cooking up new design material, she’s dreaming up a moodboard for a commission piece. Or she’s teaching evening art classes to children, from painting to fashion design.

Days like today, however, meeting new people and showcasing her work at her pop-up, are monumental to her. One of her more proud moments was having her work displayed (and it’s still there now) at the Whitney Museum Gift Shop. “That was just something I’m so proud of. It’s been on re-order and I love receiving inquiries from customers that have seen my work there and connecting with new people that love art.”

Despite her success in home decor, Caroline is drawn to fashion and clothing design. In fact, she has a few pieces on display at her pop-up as well.

“I think the brand kind of started in that way and then went into more home decor/sculpture… and now it’s back in high-end, wearable accessories and transitional pieces. I even came out with an idea where you can have a sculpture as a hand bag with a removable chain and you can actually put that sculpture on whatever dinner party you’re going to, so it's like a working piece of art.”

As most artists and designers do, she draws inspiration from the world and people around her, specifically aerial photography. “I’m always looking at photography that’s been taken from helicopters that’s looking down, focusing on the deconstructed parts of the world and then creating them into something more beautiful, or using those colours to create something more beautiful.”

As for role models, Caroline looks up to 3D-printer-turned-designer Iris Van Herpen, who fuses technology and fashion design to create complex, mesmerizing haute couture. For Caroline, runway and haute couture design is a realistic future. “I’ve always wanted to have my own atelier and studio. I definitely think the way I think is a little more couture and avant garde so I think runway is definitely where it's headed. I’d love to make more wearable pieces as well.”

Though she’s not on the runway yet, Caroline has started venturing further into clothing design, and is starting with prints and collared mesh tops. “I’ll have a whole line of prints that I’m going to be coming out with by January 2022. All of the prints are consisted of photographs of the bowls [that are] enlarged and repeated in such a way that’s a seamless, organic design.”

This NYC designer is one to watch. You can keep up with her on Instagram or view her website.