Creative Mind: Mestiz

Daniel Valero’s design practice, Mestiz, produces pieces he describes as “wild objects” with local artisans who utilize long-standing techniques. Highlights of the San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, studio’s growing repertoire include a collaboration with Casa Dragones at Rockefeller Center in New York, for which Mestiz created an ofrenda, or altar, dedicated to the life-giving properties of the sun, and a Los Angeles pop-up featuring a rug collection with Ago Projects.

Serving as a love letter to his Mexican roots, his work is inspired by practices developed in different regions of his vibrant country. Palm weaving, wood carving, and Saltillo serape textiles beget lighting, chairs, and more that stand as functional pieces of art. “They are able to have a sense of humor, which I miss from design,” Valero says of his creations. “Sometimes everything is too serious.”

Breakout moments: Included in the Denver Art Museum’s 2024 exhibition “Have a Seat,” Mestiz’s whimsical works have appeared in scenography for Hermès and more recently the Auberge Resorts Collection, where three different properties in Mexico were adorned with flora-inspired installations consisting of wicker lamps and sculptures, each in a color palette reminiscent of its surroundings. “The objects speak their own language, but when they are together, it’s a whole conversation,” says Valero.

Up next: The studio will work with Hermès for the third consecutive year, designing its store window displays in Mexico. Additionally, Mestiz is crafting a one-of-a-kind inhabitable installation where guests can stay overnight among flora- and fauna-inspired wild objects for a truly immersive design experience in San Miguel. 

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.