Irene Ferri was born in Cambridge, but grew up traveling between her native Rome, London, and Cambridge. She was surrounded by arts and culture, having her first encounter with woodworking at the age of 13, when her father would let her use the bandsaw to make dollhouse furniture. Ferri discovered and fell in love with the work of Judy Kensley McKie, leading to the discovery that she could marry form and function, and that furniture can be art, and she never looked back.

Irene will be showing her new work using wood and color pencils to create intricate assemblages that will integrate furniture pieces she is currently designing at the Social Area display wall.

She will talk about her trajectory as a designer and artist, her practice and her experience learning woodworking from her father as well as being surrounded by creatives growing up.