Pareidolia and anthropomorphism in contemporary design
Matteo Cibic is one of the most original figures in contemporary Italian design and art. Born in Parma in 1983 and based in Vicenza, over the years he has developed a practice that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of industrial design, moving toward sculpture, anthropological research, and the construction of imaginary worlds. Defining himself as an “ethologist of objects,” Cibic observes objects as if they were living organisms, endowed with character, behaviors, and relationships with the surrounding environment.
At the core of his research lies the phenomenon of pareidolia—the human tendency to recognize faces, emotions, and personalities in inanimate objects. From this insight emerge his well-known anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms, which transform design into a narrative language. In his work, objects are never merely functional tools: they become characters, hybrid creatures, presences with their own identities.
In recent years, his research has moved beyond the relationship between humans and objects, focusing instead on the vegetal world and the forms of intelligence present in nature. Projects such as Dermapoliesis imagine future ecosystems in which flora, fauna, and materials evolve together, giving rise to organisms capable of autonomously producing the resources necessary for their own existence. These works bring together influences from botany, scientific taxonomy, studies on plant intelligence, and speculative science fiction.
His artistic practice combines craft techniques from different international traditions with contemporary production processes, constantly questioning the boundaries between art, design, craftsmanship, and scientific research. The result is an immediately recognizable visual language, characterized by intense colors, organic forms, and a constant balance between irony and critical reflection.
Among his most significant projects is VasoNaso, a year-long research in which Cibic created one vase per day, producing hundreds of variations of the same form to explore the concepts of difference, evolution, and identity. As in natural species, even a minimal formal variation generates new narrative and perceptual possibilities.
His works have been exhibited in international institutions such as the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the MUDAC in Lausanne, the Triennale di Milano, the Shanghai Museum of Glass, and numerous museums and foundations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has also collaborated with international companies and brands, developing a trajectory that shows how design can be not only a productive process, but also a tool for imagining new models of coexistence between humans, technology, and nature.
On June 10th, 2026, from 6 to 9 pm, Matteo Cibic will be hosted by Sommwhere in New York for the launch of GODGIRL, a project dedicated to women, flowers, and combs. The event will present for the first time a collection of drawings by Cibic accompanied by poems by Chiara B. Sitzia, published in a limited edition of 100 copies. A special edition of Domsai, created in collaboration with Salotto, will also be presented.
Hosted by Sommwhere, the evening will offer an opportunity to meet the artist, discover books and works, watch live portrait drawing, and take part in conversations about creative processes and the value of objects made with care, time, and intention.
