Andrea Sanchez Artiles
Cafetera
Class of: 2029
Major: Fashion Design BFA
Medium: Wire sculpture, bead, chipboard
Faculty: Alison McNulty
Prompt: I had to create a 3D wire sculpture translating the character and structure of a chosen object. The project explored concepts of line, volume, and materiality while considering how form can represent personal and cultural meaning.
My project, Cafetera, is a wire sculpture inspired by the moka pot, a symbol of Miami’s cafecito culture. I reinterpreted the object using brass and steel wire, chipboard, and beads to explore how everyday rituals create a sense of belonging and cultural identity. The cafetera reflects the warmth, community, and shared history that come from gathering over coffee, especially in Miami where it is more than a drink but a daily act of connection.
Creating this piece taught me to see materials as more than physical elements. Wire became a way to draw in space, to express rhythm and structure at the same time. The brass represented value, while the steel wire added strength, showing how something delicate can also be resilient. The addition of beads symbolized transformation, from water to coffee, while adding movement and texture.
I also found humor in my choice of object. Even though I’m not Cuban, the cafetera is a familiar part of my environment, and it represents the culture I grew up surrounded by. Through this sculpture, I wanted to capture that blend of identity, tradition, and place, showing how something ordinary can hold layers of meaning once its context is understood.