Soap Carving Workshop with artist Pía Ortuño
About
Guided by Costa Rican–born, London-based artist Pía Ortuño, this soap carving family-friendly workshop introduces simple, safe carving techniques inspired by her practice. Ortuño works with carved wooden panels layered in pigmented marble dust, creating tactile reliefs that play with light and shadow. Her approach sits between abstraction and lived reference, inviting viewers to feel dualities—earth/spirit, illusion/object, softness/structure.
Rooted in the landscapes and traditions of Costa Rica and informed by time in Carrara, Italy studying ancient marble and bronze techniques, Pía’s process embraces improvisation; cracking, layering, and letting natural patterns emerge.
Attendees will explore touch, texture, and simple shaping while learning how materials carry memory and place.
No experience required, and materials & tools will be provided; everyone leaves with a carved soap.
About Artist
Pía Ortuño is a Costa Rican artist currently living and working in London. She received her Painting MA from the Royal College of Art in London (2022) and a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Costa Rica (2019). She apprenticed under Jimenez Deredia in Carrara (Italy) and worked with ancient marble and bronze techniques.
Ortuño has exhibited in the United Kingdom and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include Down to the Roots, Cadogan Gallery, 2025 The Day of His Wrath, Duarte Sequeira Gallery, Portugal (2024), and A Blue Fire, Incubator Gallery, London (2022). Her recent group exhibitions have included, Into The Woods, Make Room, Los Angeles (2025) Across the Pond, Eric Firestone Gallery, New York (2024), In Continuity, Sherbet Green, London (2024) Marking Time, Cooke Latham Gallery, London (2024), Matter, Flowers Gallery, London (2023) New Ancients, Guts Gallery, London (2023), Books and Things, Helen J. Gallery Los Angeles (2022), and Shadows, Stables Gallery, Switzerland (2022).
Coinciding with Ortuño’s solo exhibition the artist will be presenting at Frieze Seoul 2025 with Make Room and Duarte Sequeria.