About

Eva-Maria Spampinato is an artist and design historian — a relationship she cannot separate. This is The Historical Artist.

Over two decades as a journeywoman, she pursued craft-based material knowledge across academia, classical fine art training, and art conservation in paintings and paper artworks, investigating art and design through the modes of craft, alchemy, and the natural world.

At the heart of her practice is an ethical approach to materials, rooted in the philosophy of early modern thrift: a way of working that balances traditional and contemporary practice, and honours what the natural world provides. 

She completed her MA in the History of Design at the Royal College of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, where her dissertation research into design in art materials in early modern London became the foundation for Thrift Art Journal.

“Thrifty is how to manage what you have…to thrive, respect & make good use of what the world provided to raise riches in morals & values…made most precious resources given by nature…whilst express gratitude for the gifts of the range of materials & its possessions.” ‍ ‍
‍ ‍- Simon Werret, 'Thrifty Science', 2019