Hugo Drubay

Hugo Drubay (France,1991) is a Designer, Interior Architect & Sculptor. Hugo Drubay is an interior architect, designer and sculptor. Inspired by nature and captivated by morphogenesis, he strives to convey the beauty of nature through his work, using a combination of techniques ranging from traditional craftsmanship to cutting-edge new technologies such as 3D printing and digital sculpture. Like a true naturalist, he carefully observes the forms of nature and integrates them into his own creative process, revealing organic forms. Graduating in interior architecture, product design and visual communication from École Bleue in 2015, Hugo Drubay forged his talent alongside masters such as Jacques Garcia, Loris Gréaud & Théo Mercier. In 2019, he won the prestigious Mobilier National prize at the Design Parade.

Hugo Drubay’s work draws inspiration from the Medici Vase, one of the most famous ancient vases in the modern era. Acquired by Ferdinando de’ Medici in 1571 for his Roman villa, the vase became a subject of study for artists as early as the late 16th century. The engraver Stefano della Bella placed it prominently in the foreground of one of his Six Large Views of Rome, on the terrace of the Villa’s garden. In the engraving, the vase serves as a model for his student, the young Cosimo III de’ Medici, Ferdinando’s great-grandson. Transferred to Florence along with the rest of the Medici collection, the vase is now held in the Uffizi Gallery.

Hugo Drubay retains the shape of the ancient vase but replaces its figures with a depiction of the Sabine Mountains near Rome, in a poetic evocation of nature and raw material. Blending traditional techniques such as plaster modeling and gilding with digital sculpture, he offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the Medici Vase, which thus regains its place in the Villa’s garden.