Raw Portraits: Gabriel Escámez

On the transformative power of nature


Charismatic, passionate, visionary, and spiritual, Gabriel Escámez, artistic director of Cobalto Studio, is, at his core, pure Mediterranean solar energy. This time, however, we find him but surrounded by snow in a small village in central France. It was there that he created the volcano-inspired installation for our firs Paris Pop Up. And it was there that we spoke about the transformative power of nature.

Raw Portraits: Gabriel Escámez

Raw Portraits: Gabriel Escámez

On the transformative power of nature


Raw Portraits: Gabriel Escámez

Charismatic, passionate, visionary, and spiritual, Gabriel Escámez, artistic director of Cobalto Studio, is, at his core, pure Mediterranean solar energy. This time, however, we find him but surrounded by snow in a small village in central France. It was there that he created the volcano-inspired installation for our firs Paris Pop Up. And it was there that we spoke about the transformative power of nature.


ROWSE

 1. Hello Gabriel, what brought you to France?

GABRIEL
Something as powerful as a volcano—LOVE. And love, as we know, comes in many forms.

ROWSE

 2. The Mediterranean, its solar energy, and its way of life have shaped your personality and career. How has this change of scenery affected your life?

GABRIEL
Undoubtedly, it’s a more inward energy, perhaps more introspective. Creatively, I feel more in tune with the spiritual, more aligned with a deep energy—something that wasn’t always nurtured in a more expansive, solar culture.

ROWSE

 3. What about your work, where do you think this change will take you?

GABRIEL
I’m currently finalizing the details of something I’ve always carried within me, and it’s finally coming to life. It’s Fine Design, a new line of high-end furniture where I blend art and design. The first collection is titled CULEBRA, inspired by the symbolism of the snake and its abstract, poetic movement, combining the organic and natural with the architectural and monumental.

ROWSE

 4. Beauty, inspiration, refuge... What does nature mean to you?

GABRIEL
Above all, it means calmness and contemplation. One connects with nature and realizes that we’re just passing through, merely journeying through this beautiful space we call Earth. It doesn't belong to us, and, unfortunately, we’re not taking good care of it.

ROWSE

 5. As we talk, I can see the full moon. Do you feel its energy in any way?

GABRIEL
Yes, definitely! There’s always something mystical about a full moon. I see it as a moment for change and renewal—a time for gaining awareness, closing chapters, and evolving toward new paths with refreshed energy.

ROWSE

 6. Can you tell us a bit about the installation you created for the ROWSE pop-up in Paris?

GABRIEL
My idea was to make ROWSE emerge in Paris like a volcano on the verge of eruption. I’ve known Nuria Val, [co-founder and creative director of ROWSE] for years, and we share a fascination for volcanoes. When she asked me to create an installation for their launch in Paris, it was a clear vision. I wanted to tap into that raw, visceral energy of the Earth, the kind that can transform everything. That’s a bit how I see ROWSE’s mission—transforming the way we care for ourselves by connecting with nature.

ROWSE

 7. Why this fascination with volcanoes?

GABRIEL
The roar of the Earth, the fluidity of lava, the transformative power of fire... I’m fascinated by how something so fierce, capable of devastating its surroundings, also has a creative and regenerative effect. It purifies. Nature transforms and finds its balance again. Destruction and renewal—pure creative energy.

ROWSE

 8. Your work connects with nature in a very direct way through materials. What draws you to pure, organic materials?

GABRIEL
Since I was a child, I’ve been drawn to the imperfection and timelessness of materials. Even in a purely geometric shape, there’s always something that stands out, revealing an aspect of its nature. It’s the gesture of nature.

ROWSE

 9. Do you practice any routine or ritual to reconnect with yourself? Any ROWSE product that helps you in those moments?

GABRIEL
Honestly, my routine is far from conventional, but I really enjoy the textures and scents of ROWSE. Right now, I’m obsessed with the Winter Body Oil; the scent is amazing. I know it’s not intended for the face, but I’ve occasionally used it there.

ROWSE

 10. What are your plans for this year? Any project that particularly excites you?

GABRIEL
Personal growth projects—changes that, although difficult, need to be made. I feel like I’m in no-man's land, with a sense of shifting sands, and I think that’s how this year will feel. On the work front, I have projects that make me very happy, especially everything surrounding this new chapter of furniture and art design with Fine Design.

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