Pascale Zintzen

Small talk

Pascale Zintzen

We met with Pascale, the artist behind OIKOS ESTUDIO, a multidisciplinary creator working primarily with clay, textiles, and painting. Originally from Belgium, she now lives between Barcelona and the Ebro Delta with her two sons , whom she has raised on her own. With a background in archaeology, art history, and traditional tapestry, her work is inspired by ancient objects, everyday rituals, and the Mediterranean landscape around her. After years working in humanitarian aid with Médecins Sans Frontières, her art reflects a deep awareness of both beauty and hardship. Photography:RAUL RUZ.    

Hello Pascale, what are you into at the moment?
– Right now, I’m fully immersed in working with clay. Since I took my first ceramics class in 2020, I haven’t gone more than 48 hours without touching it. I’m also exploring other mediums, like painting on fabric, which I’ve been doing a lot lately. And it’s a dream come true: I’m about to cast my first sculpture in bronze, which will be released in Paris this September. It’s a big step, and symbolic too, as I’ve gradually integrated metal into my practice throughout 2025.

Tell us about yourself.
– I’m a multidisciplinary artist with a background in archaeology, art history, and traditional tapestry. I live between Barcelona and the countryside of the Ebro Delta. I’m a mother of two boys—aged 10 and 11—and I’ve raised them on my own since they were toddlers. It wasn’t my plan, but it’s my life, and I’m proud of the team we’ve become.

I was born in Belgium and spent seven years working with Médecins Sans Frontières, traveling to some of the most volatile places on Earth—Congo, Afghanistan, Haiti… That exposure to both human resilience and suffering has deeply shaped me. I arrived in Spain in 2011, left and came back a few times, but since 2016, this has been home.

Where are you in life right now?
– I live in a constant search for balance between creativity, work, and motherhood—which often means embracing their overlap rather than separating them. My studio is my home, and my home is my studio. I’m now represented by two galleries I love—La Lune in France, and Etesian in Menorca—and collaborate with showrooms like Llop in Madrid, Collection Apart in Stockholm, and Scenario Collective in Milan. I’ve chosen to push myself toward the gallery world, creating sculptural, collectible design pieces. I also work with brands I admire, like Sessùn, and want to continue developing pieces for stores that curate and celebrate craftsmanship. My goal is to fully support my family through my art. I work a lot, and I’m fully focused.

Pascale Zintzen

Through Oikos Estudio, Pascale crafts one-of-a-kind pieces rooted in care, honesty, and storytelling.

Pascale Zintzen

Left: Amphora and lime pedestal both by Pascale.

Right: Marius and Billy wears clothes from True Artist holding old tiles painted by Pascale.

 

Pascale Zintzen

Dress and trousers from Thinking Mu.

How would you describe your work?
– My work is slow, handmade, and rooted in natural materials. It’s inspired by ancient domestic objects—artifacts used in everyday life, for rituals or protection. I’m also influenced by Wabi-Sabi aesthetics and Mediterranean living. The process is as important as the final piece. I’d say my work is honest and humble, searching always for the poetry of imperfection.

And your artistry?
– My artistry is about care, strength, and storytelling. It’s feminine, and feminist. It’s grounded in daily life and shaped by my experience as a mother and single parent. There’s vulnerability in what I create, and I think that’s what speaks to people—it evokes emotion. I work with clay, paint, and textiles—always with my hands, and with intention. I don’t delegate any part of the process, except for the bronze casting of Buffalo Moon, my first collaborative piece, which will be shown at Paris Design Week. I was present throughout and want to learn how to do it myself.

What is a desirable object to you?
– A desirable object is handmade, meaningful, and maybe a little magical—magical to you. It makes you feel safe, seen, and at home. It should be collectible. I think of my pieces as future artefacts—objects that will stay, belong, and one day become antiques. My favorite piece, Buffalo Moon, is just that: it speaks of femininity, mythology, and the sacredness of home.

What is your fashion style?
– My forever muse is Jane Birkin. Since I can remember, she’s been my model—simple, French, that boyish-yet-feminine elegance. Her daughter Lou Doillon carries that same spirit, and I often revisit her style too.

I also love Jacquemus—especially since Les Santons in 2017. To me, Simon Porte Jacquemus embodies everything I admire: honesty, humility, dreaming big, and working even harder. His references to the South feel deeply authentic. I’d love to collaborate with him one day—maybe creating small clay purses. (I’m actually working on that now!)

Where does your inspiration come from?
– Everywhere. All the time. Inside and outside. I have this mental bank of images—antique ceramics, everyday ancient objects, sculptures from all eras. Years of studying archaeology and art history gave me that visual vocabulary.

Then there’s the Mediterranean—its light and landscape—and the countryside where we live part of the year. And of course, my own life, especially motherhood. That daily rhythm, in all its beauty and chaos, is an endless source of creativity.

You live in Barcelona but were born in Belgium. How did you end up in Spain?
– I was born in Belgium and spent much of my teenage years in art school. I always knew I wanted to live in southern Europe. After years traveling with the NGO, I settled in Barcelona. It could have been elsewhere—but this is where I landed. It’s where my children have grown up. It feels like home now, although this past year I’ve felt a bit displaced… which maybe means I really belong here, because belonging always comes with friction.

I remember every day how lucky we are to live where we do.

Tell us about your two boys. Who are they?
– Marius and Billy. They’re 11 months apart—what people call “Irish twins.” They say they wanted to be twins but have their own space in my belly. There’s definitely a twin-like bond between them. They’re full of energy and creativity. They love skateboarding. And cooking. They even have a little restaurant concept called Les Frères. Sometimes they cook for me while I work in the studio. They’re a huge part of my life—and my art. They always have an eye on what I’m making.

Pascale Zintzen

Artwork by Pascale Zintzen.

´A desirable object is handmade, meaningful, and maybe a little magical—magical to you. It makes you feel safe, seen, and at home. It should be collectible. I think of my pieces as future artefacts—objects that will stay, belong, and one day become antiques.´

Pascale Zintzen

Marius wears True Artist top, overall private; Billy: True Artists clothes, Pascale; dress and trousers by Thinking Mu.

Pascale Zintzen

A limited selection of  Pascales beautiful unique plates will soon be available in TWWPs shop Hotel TWWP.

Pascale Zintzen

“Marius and Billy. They’re 11 months apart—what people call “Irish twins.” They say they wanted to be twins but have their own space in my belly. There’s definitely a twin-like bond between them. They’re full of energy and creativity.”

What has a positive effect on your creativity?
– Everything. The good and the bad. Joy and sadness. Fair and unfair. I channel all of it into my work—it keeps the wheel turning. Creativity is how I process the world.

When are you happiest?
– When I’m working—creating. It’s less about being happy and more about feeling in the right place. Feeling like myself. And that’s essential for happiness, especially for women, who are so often taught to make others happy first.

What is a perfect day for you?
– A day when I’ve worked well, when the house feels good and the vibe is right. When my kids are peaceful, enthusiastic. A day when something exciting arrives—or when I complete something I’m proud of.

What book are you reading?
– I’m reading I Will Carry the Fire, the final book in Leïla Slimani’s Le pays des autres trilogy. Since the third one came out this year, I reread the first two and dove straight into the last.

A film you liked?
– I rarely watch films—I work late into the night and can’t afford to be tired the next day. But I do go to the cinema with my kids. We all loved Wonka.

Podcasts you love?
– So many—mostly in French. Le goût de M, Folie Douce by Lauren Bastide (on mental health), Un jour dans le monde(France Inter), Neurofashion with Bella Freud, Un podcast à soi, Passages (Louie Media), Vivons heureux avant la fin du monde (ARTE), The Bold Way, Une vie, une œuvre… the list goes on.

Do you have any recommendations?
– Yes—La Poudre, Lauren Bastide’s podcast. For years, she’s interviewed artists, activists, feminist thinkers… it’s a powerful archive.
Books: L’Art de la joie by Goliarda Sapienza. And Just Kids by Patti Smith.

What are your struggles?
– Balancing motherhood and art. It limits me and empowers me at the same time. I’ve learned to turn that tension into a creative force.

Pascale Zintzen

Left: Billy wears True Artist sweater and personal overall. Right; Pascale wears Thinking Mu shirt and vintage overall.

Pascale Zintzen

Pascale with Nala, the dog of the family.

What are you most proud of?
– That I keep creating every day. I’m growing in my art and supporting my family through my work. My children are being raised in a safe—mentally and physically—environment, and that means everything to me. I’ve built a life where I can do what I love and share it with others. I try to take pride in what I’ve achieved artistically, especially considering I had no connections when I arrived in Spain. But I’m always looking forward, focused on what’s next. I’m happy—but always hungry for more.

If you could, you would…?
– I can, and I will—ah ah! I want to work with galleries I admire, take my practice to the next level in terms of exhibitions, visibility, and creative freedom. I’d love for my art to take us traveling, to show work internationally, and spend time in an artistic residency abroad for a year. That’s the dream—and the plan.

Thank you Pascale and Raul!

Published June 29, 2025