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Thanks to his brand, he has earned a place in the world of design for his functional pieces loaded with emotional meaning, designed to transcend generations and become part of the history of those who use them. Artist and furniture designer William Stewart is the creator of Costantini Design.
Stewart was born in a small town near Syracuse, upstate New York He grew up surrounded by abandoned factories and industrial landscapes which awakened from an early age his fascination with materials and architecture. “I grew up near a furniture factory. When I was about 7 years old, my parents signed me up for Little League Baseball. I didn’t stand out much, so I used to stay in right field, the quieter area, where the ball was never hit. My mother would always see me distracted, looking the other way, behind the fence, in the direction of a nearby factory. If someone hit, I would take the opportunity to climb the walls of the old quarry and get to the parking lot. Eventually I got it.” The scene became a very powerful metaphor for me. “I was also fascinated to observe this huge, silent building, wondering what stories were preserved in its brick and cement walls over time.”
In her home, art was part of daily life thanks to her mother, a visual artist, who filled the house with colors, fabrics and paintings. “My mother had a very special eye for finding beauty in everyday life. “She was able to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary with just a gesture,” he says. This influence was crucial for William to develop the aesthetic sensitivity and emotional connection to materials that define his work today. “I think I inherited from her this curiosity to explore textures, colors and shapes. “She taught me that art is not only seen, but also touched and felt.” He adds.
Over time, this curiosity will become a true passion. After graduating with an art degree, Stewart moved to New York with the goal of starting his career. However, he is still not ready to fully settle down in the big city and decides to spend some time in his original place. That’s when A trip changed the course of his life, and his sister, who was studying in Buenos Aires, invited him to visit her.
What started as a simple vacation became a love story with ArgentinaWith its people and creative energy. “My sister liked Buenos Aires so much that she decided to stay for another semester,” he recalls. “At that time I thought I should go visit her to see what was going on.”
His first visit to Argentina, in July 2001, was full of discoveries, surprises and stories that he still remembers clearly. “I was in my twenties and spent my time exploring. I went to Costanera, to different clubs, and stayed until sunrise, which is a very Argentinian thing.” He says with a smile.
But it was a very special moment that marked his first real contact with the local culture. “My sister’s host father asked me to go with him to buy drinks for a party. When it was time to pay, he told me he had forgotten his wallet and asked me to cover the cost. Then he explained to me that he would refund the money by charging admission, five pesos per person, and an open bar. He taught me to say, ‘Hey, no cigarettes on the floor, please.’ Five pesos, all you can drink.’ That’s how I met everyone at the party and learned my first words.” In Spanish,” he recalled. He laughed
Over time, this initial connection became deeper. He learned the language, adopted local customs, and felt part of the community. “From the first moment I felt included. Now I speak Spanish and many people think I am Argentine. I even learned how to operate the grill, which is my favorite tradition. “I love cooking over wood.”He confesses.
What surprises him most is how these small cultural gestures have become part of his identity. “I love it when a stranger says ‘bon appetit’ when I’m having breakfast in a café,” he says. “It’s a simple, very human thing. When I’m in New York and pass by someone having lunch alone, I say the same thing to them. It’s like taking a little piece of Buenos Aires with me.”
The philosophy behind Costantini’s design is clear: to create functional pieces that convey emotions and tell stories. “I am an artist and I express myself through things that can be enjoyed with use. Every piece begins with a personal story, and I hope our customers continue that story. Stuart explains this and passed it on to future generations.
His favorite materials are bronze and vellum, although in recent years he has begun to experiment with fiberglass. This choice is not a coincidence, but is directly related to his experience in Argentina. “This country is incredibly rich in materials, wood, leather, stones… When the ingredients are good, there is no need to hide them too much. I do not consider myself a minimalist, but I like to respect the natural beauty. It is like seeing stones eroded by the wind and rain in Catamarca. The imperfections are like fingerprints, unique and beautiful.”
When Stewart founded his company in 2002, he decided to do all production in Argentina. Two decades later, he remains convinced of this choice. “I don’t spend a lot of time in my hometown, upstate New York,” he says. “Buenos Aires has an impressive history of craftsmanship, and working here allows me to surround myself with talented people. Plus, the connection to New York is direct, it’s a ten-hour flight and in roughly the same time zone. And I like the seasons to be opposite. When February is cold and dark in New York, I’m in the workshop with the team, in the middle of summer.”
Logistics aside, the real value for Stewart lies in the community he has built over the years. “I arrive at the workshop, in José León Suarez, before eight in the morning and the day goes by quickly. I work with an amazing team of artists who have inherited techniques from previous generations or who have learned them by working with me. “It is an honor to create with them and share this work with a global audience,” he says.
Their connection to the city is also reflected in personal rituals. “My workshop is located meters away from the grill where they cook on wood. In the morning, when I smell smoke as I walk through the door, it feels like home. “Everyone knows me and asks me what I’ll order, appetizer, blank or grilled, which is my favorite.”
Living between New York and Buenos Aires gives Stewart a unique perspective on art and design. “New York is the biggest stage in the world. I love wandering the galleries in Chelsea, meeting friends and clients, and listening to jazz. But it’s also an expensive city and it’s always full of people,” he says.
On the other hand, Argentina offers another type of energy. “Here I feel tremendous support to fuel my creative process. “Buenos Aires inspires me and allows me to grow in ways that might be difficult in New York.” Confirms. When we ask him when he feels closest to New York and when he feels most Argentine, he answers without hesitation: “In New York, I walk through the galleries, do something outdoors, and talk to clients. In Buenos Aires, I have a barbecue with the team after finishing a big project. The truth is that I do both in both places, and that makes me feel lucky.”
One of the most profound learnings in his career is about accepting mistakes as part of the creative process. “A few years ago, I sent some pieces to a foundry, and they came back with big cracks. They were ‘defective,’ but they were beautiful. The foundry offered to remake them, but I was sure they could find their place. “We are now experimenting with intentionally recreating those cracks.”,account. This approach speaks to a philosophy that goes beyond design. “I’m not looking to make mistakes, but they happen. And When that happens, you have to forgive yourself and move on.. If you’re not taking risks, you’re probably not living your best life.
The surname Costantini is not accidental. Stewart chose his ancestral name for his brand as a tribute to his Italian roots and his family’s influence. “Inviting them to their first showroom in Los Angeles in 2003 was an amazing moment. I have a picture of my grandfather sitting in one of the chairs I designed. At one point he asked me if I needed money, and even though it would have been nice, I said no. Later that day, I took them both to the first restaurant project I worked on. Because I named the company after him, I think the client thought they might be the real owners and I said, ‘Grandpa Costantini doesn’t talk.’ A lot. And my grandmother shouted at him, ‘Bill, Did you hear that? He says don’t talk!
Anecdotes aside, Stuart makes sure family values guide everything he does. “My grandmother taught me that true success is surrounding yourself with people you love and who love you back. And I think the same goes for things, “Life is too short to fill it with things that mean nothing.”And it reflects.
Today, every piece of the brand carries the spirit of two worlds: the energy of New York and the literal warmth of Buenos Aires. “When our furniture reaches a customer in another part of the world, it travels with the history of everyone involved in its creation,” says Stewart. “It is a bridge between cultures, people and generations.”
Looking back, he is grateful for the way he has come. He concludes: “Every step, even the mistakes, led me here. If you had told me in 2001 that this would be my future, I would not have believed it. But Argentina gave me a second home and a new way of seeing the world.”