Through her majestic and grand pastel representations of some of the most remote places on the planet, American artist Zaria Forman bears witness to the impact of changes in landscapes. A dedicated and unwavering explorer, she has become the new face of Vacheron Constantin’s “One of not many” campaign, embodying the concept of the Overseas collection alongside Cory Richards.
Since 2018, the “One of not many” campaign has been bringing together personalities who embody the most cherished values of Vacheron Constantin and contribute to the brand’s prestige in the exclusive world of Haute Horlogerie. Artist Zaria Forman now joins a group of talents that includes musician Benjamin Clementine, designer Ora Ito, photographer and explorer Cory Richards, as well as Haute Couture designer Yiqing Yin. These figures stand out for representing the ideals that the Maison values most.
“The pursuit of excellence and a love for adventure, passion and innovation, elegance and tradition, art and culture in all its forms are the traits that characterize our Maison’s spirit since its founding in 1755. This visionary, sensitive, and demanding mindset is reflected in Zaria Forman’s artistic approach and expressive territory. She is an artist with a strong social commitment, perfectly aware that art conveys emotions and eager to share beauty with the public,” says Louis Ferla, CEO of Vacheron Constantin.
As Zaria Forman herself states, “I knew nothing about Haute Horlogerie and discovered this incredible world through the lens of Vacheron Constantin. I was amazed by the craftsmen who ply their trade in the Manufacture, with the passion and dedication they bring to their work, and especially their manual work, which reminds me a lot of my own craft: tracing contours with the tips of my fingers, enjoying a tactile and sensitive relationship with the material, through a process of creation and transmission; leaving a personal mark on time, which gains a voice. The landscapes I love and represent in my work illustrate the passage of time and its impact on the world and humanity.”
Zaria Forman is an artist born in Massachusetts in 1982, currently residing in New York. She is primarily known for her art depicting remote landscapes around the world. For over fifteen years, Zaria has traveled extensively, documenting changing landscapes through photographs and memories that she later reproduces in large-scale pastel works on paper. Her exhibitions are held in museums and galleries around the world.
During her expeditions, Zaria takes thousands of photos and videos of the landscapes she visits and then combines these images with her personal experiences to create stunning compositions. Applying soft pastel pigments to paper using only her fingers or palms, she creates incredibly detailed and delicate works of realism.
Zaria Forman’s art spans several notable exhibitions, including her participation in Dismaland, a Banksy-themed amusement park that addressed social issues. She was also an artist-in-residence aboard the National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica and contributed to permanent polar art exhibitions on Lindblad Expedition ships. In addition to her artistic work, Zaria is socially engaged and a tireless explorer. She participated in NASA’s airborne scientific missions, such as Operation IceBridge, which mapped changes in terrestrial ice in Antarctica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic. Zaria uses unique materials collected during such missions to create works that highlight the beauty and vulnerability of our planet.
During the filming of the “One of not many” campaign in Iceland, Zaria Forman once again collected images and personal memories, which served as the raw material for a series of paintings, video works, and sculptures titled Fellsfjara, of which artwork number 3 was intentionally created for Vacheron Constantin.
