In search of opportunity, Aliperti moved to the US alone at the age of 17. His immersion into US culture was initially stark and extremely challenging. He first landed in Kansas, then Massachusetts and ultimately in New York City. Aliperti wanted to be able to convey his ideas effectively and accurately to others, so he first enrolled in community college night school, to study English while working full-time. In NYC, he enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) followed by Polimoda in Florence, Italy to complete his undergraduate studies. Impressed by his talent and potential, the prestigious Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, France, awarded Aliperti a full scholarship to pursue his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Luxury Design. He graduated in 2007 and was immediately hired as a Design Assistant at Louis Vuitton. Aliperti then rose to the position Design Director of Concept at Oscar de la Renta whilst consulting for compelling, emerging designer brands including Collina Strada. 

David Aliperti crafts intricate sculptures from dyed foam clay that evoke imagined worlds and ecosystems. His “Mother Tree” series, developed in collaboration with SoMad, reflects meditative and laborious artistry, with each piece requiring months of meticulous hand assembly. Aliperti’s works speak to the resilience and reinvention inherent in nature. These sculptures transport viewers into otherworldly realms, and the abstract nature of Aliperti’s imagined worlds provoke viewers to project their own interpretations, challenging perceived boundaries between nature and imagination.

Learn More About David's Mothertree

Mother Tree is a project that aspires to question the preset values that we hold in the realms of art and design today. Diminutive in scale and high in intricacies, the sculptures are assembled entirely by hand without the aid of any tools or materials other than dyed foam clay. The works can best be described as meditative, intuitive and laborious, each sculpture taking up to months from start to finish.

The intention is to transport the viewer into imagined worlds different from our own, creating landscapes that are emotional and abstract, conjuring relationships between the viewer and the object that are personal and introspective while free from expectations.

Each piece speaks of the indomitable spirit and resilience of nature, of a perennial power for reinvention and reconfiguration – all virtues that are central for the perseverance of minority groups, for marginalized entities and outcasts. The works exhibited are part of the series Mother Tree, made in conjunction with SoMad, a New York based femme and queer led art space.

David Aliperti & Claywoman