EVA PEP EXPANDS THE BOUNDARIES OF INTERIOR FINISHES THROUGH VISIONARY ARTISTRY
- melinda979
- May 14
- 4 min read
When your walls need to stand out with distinctive presence, seek out Eva Pep's expertise in creating finishes that you won't find anywhere else. Her constantly expanding repertoire of materials and techniques that she's skilled in combined with her instinctive creative process has led to some of the most inventive and inspiring surfaces we've seen.
As the third generation in her family of artists, designers, and architects, Eva continued that legacy by getting her degree in interior design and becoming one of the youngest designers who was invited to the International Association of Designers. Throughout the years she has sought out artistry in many forms, always gravitating towards surfaces with unique appearances and textured finishes.
1. Tooled Venetian plaster gilded in gold leaf by Eva Pep.
2. Iridescent blue gesso design with mica resembling waves crashing in the ocean by Eva Pep.
3. Bronze stained and polished tooled plaster by Eva Pep.
4. Custom tooled finish half gilded in gold leaf by Eva Pep.
Eva is a self-proclaimed material girl, as she says, “I love to touch, smell, and feel all the different materials and textures around me. That is why I love to create with my hands.” Her inspiration for the designs she creates comes from everything she sees around her, with ideas even coming to her in dreams.
"I am not sure how to explain, but being creative with different materials makes me feel lighter. I don't think about anything else—my mind is clear and I don't feel anything like hot or cold, or even time passing, I just feel the process." —Eva Pep
In Conversation with Eva Pep
In our latest conversation, Eva delves further into her creative process and inspirations for her one-of-a-kind finishes.
What keeps you curious and inspires you to try new materials or techniques in your work?
The different materials themselves inspire me to play with them. Inspiration is all around us, we just need to see it. It can come from traveling, books, movies, music, art, emotions...anything from expansive landscapes to the smallest details in everyday life.
How does your creative process unfold when working with several
materials and techniques at once?
It's a step-by-step process that is easy if you understand the materials' behavior and suitability. For example, my terracotta bas relief tiles that were inspired by Antelope Canyon were a result of combining my knowledge, techniques, and materials.
Do you feel like each material brings out a different side of
your creativity?
I am not sure how to explain, but being creative with different materials makes me feel lighter. I don't think about anything else—my mind is clear and I don't feel anything like hot or cold, or even time passing, I just feel the process.
Is there a material or technique you’re interested in trying out
next?
Porcelain and glass are two materials that I want to uncover the beauty of in my art next. I always like to try new things, but returning to old things with a new perspective can help me refine my skills and discover new potential.
While Eva has delved into many different art forms throughout the years such as decorative painting and murals, one of the more prominent artistries for her lately has been bas relief. Made from plaster and sometimes other elements that Eva incorporates, bas reliefs contain sculptural forms on the wall's surface and can appear lifelike.
These bas reliefs range from scenes of birds and delicate flora to more abstract designs with liquid metals or pigments such as her rust-colored grooved tiles that make you feel like you're on Mars.
1. Delicate floral bas relief by Eva Pep with SuperStrata for Dan Fink Studio.
2. Bas relief wall panel featuring herons by Eva Pep.
1. Grooved terracotta style bas relief tile by Eva Pep.
2. Floral bas relief over fluted plaster panel by Eva Pep.
Eva's magic touch for innovative textured finishes has led to many new creations for interiors. These often highlight texture and use a variety of tools, materials, and processes to form one-of-a-kind designs that create depth and intrigue.
Many of these finishes are abstract designs that incorporate aggregates, gold leaf, plaster, lacquer, mica, gesso...the list goes on. She is constantly finding new materials and techniques to work with and developing unique combinations that inspire us.
1. Metallic finish by Eva Pep on fluted plaster panel by SuperStrata.
2. Japanese yellow-green silver Leaf plaster wall finish by Eva Pep.
1. Black and white cracked Venetian plaster finish by Eva Pep.
2. Tooled Silver Venetian plaster finish by Eva Pep.
Always working on new creations, Eva has even invented a finish adjacent to verre églomisé that she calls "3D églomisé," made up of different colors and patterns beneath the glass that appear three dimensional.
When it comes to her specialty finishes she says, "I like the way that no finish looks the same as another one. Even if I did the same exact motions, the product would be something completely unique."
Eva's imaginative eye, extraordinary range of techniques, and deep material knowledge will transform a room unlike anything you've ever experienced before.
1. Variety of “3D églomisé tiles" by Eva Pep.
2. Details of a gold combed plaster finish by Eva Pep.
1. Criss-cross pattern distressed white on gold finish by Eva Pep.
2. Tooled black and brown Venetian plaster design by Eva Pep.
