Maŕa Peralta

My name is Maŕa, and I am an experimental artist, vocalist, and designer. My work moves fluidly between sound and form, where music and design share a process of experimentation. When creating sound, I work extensively with analogue gear, constantly recording, manipulating, distorting, and reshaping sound—whether through my voice or instruments. Similarly, when designing jewellery and accessories, I treat metal as a medium for transformation, shaping and reconstructing it to create pieces that feel like they collide and merge in intentional ways. Both disciplines are about deconstruction, reconstruction, and pushing materials, whether sonic or physical.

Music came first; it’s always been the backbone of my life. I grew up in an Argentinian Catholic household, went to Catholic school, played the piano, and sang in the choir all through my youth. I never realised how deeply rooted it was until later. When I moved to Brooklyn in 2013, I started throwing parties under my label, Cultivated Sound, which led me to DJing. Around the same time, I began making jewellery—at first, just functional pieces to hold my USBs and CDs since I could only afford older CDJs at home. Creatively, my process is the same across music and design: experimentation through improvisation. Whether I’m manipulating sound or metal, it’s about deconstruction, reconstruction, pushing materials beyond their limits, and creating a sound that connects to the listener and feels emotional.

I launched Maŕa Peralta Studio in 2019 and reintroduced my first collection in 2020. I’ve always been drawn to working with metal and hardware—colliding the worlds of jewellery and industrial materials to push the boundaries of what jewellery can be while influenced by the underground and experimental scenes in New York. My goal was to create statement pieces that were utilitarian, functional, and strong, that could exist with you indefinitely, designed to endure the chaos of youths and our madness. Steel became my medium of choice—resilient, raw, sustainable, forever.

As a youth, I became deeply connected to the chain and metal aesthetic. The American dream, for me, was captured in those summer days riding Harley Davidsons, passing endless fields, and heading toward the mountains, all while wearing those bold chains, tank tops, and boots. That sense of freedom and rebellion shaped my understanding of strength and sexuality. Since then, it’s been embedded in our ethos—creating jewellery and accessories that resist and challenge the status quo, crafting pieces that stand as symbols of strength, identity, and resilience. My inspirations have always been deeply rooted in my youth, but I am very connected to Alexander McQueen's couture metal pieces and the concept of anti-fashion, creating pieces that are timeless and uniform.

When I launched Maŕa Peralta Studio, finding my voice and creating a design language that felt authentic was a major challenge. I wanted to create timeless, unisex, sustainable pieces with functionality and uniformity. Working with stainless steel, an industrial material not typical in fine jewellery, was a challenge. The process of reconstructing and refining these elements through trial and error allowed me to push boundaries and challenge traditional jewellery design. My approach, rooted in ready-made design, transforms pre-existing elements into wearable art. Balancing raw energy with detailed craftsmanship defines MPS today.

Clásico Gótico is incredibly personal to me. It merges my Buenos Aires roots with the industrial concrete of New York City, blending two worlds that have shaped my identity. The three most representative elements of this collection are the gothic cross iconography, the use of Argentine leather, textiles, and textured chains. The cross iconography in this collection is a direct reflection of my Catholic upbringing, symbolizing both the religious and rebellious undertones of my youth. It represents a duality of faith and defiance, echoing the complex relationship I’ve always had with my cultural and spiritual roots. What’s different about Clásico Gótico is how it deeply intertwines my personal journey with the raw materials. There’s more of a duality here—where my Argentine past meets the unrelenting energy of New York. It feels more mature, introspective, and connected to themes of identity and heritage, which weren’t as prominent in my previous collections. This collection isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a reflection of my own evolution, both as an artist and as a person.

My clients are drawn to the cross and gothic aesthetic of Clásico Gótico, giving the collection a more romanticised yet rebellious and textured feel. But what’s been especially exciting is the response to the new material explorations—this is the first time I’ve designed with leather, learning how to process and shape it. So far clients really connect with the Leather Chokers and Argentine Belts. The belts, in particular, hold deep significance—the buckles feature a stylised version of the Guarda Pampa pattern, a traditional Argentine and Uruguayan design commonly used in textiles, leatherwork, and metalwork. Its geometric shapes—often resembling a cross or grid—symbolise a strong connection to the land and indigenous traditions of the Pampas region, making each piece a tribute to heritage and craftsmanship. Every leather belt is hand-cut and sourced from skilled artisans in Buenos Aires, using high-quality cowhide from Northern and Central Argentina. This not only reinforces my Argentine roots but also ensures durability and authenticity in every design.

I was born in New York to parents from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and grew up speaking Castilian Spanish at home. My upbringing was deeply rooted in Argentine culture. This blend of worlds—the intimate, family traditions of my Argentine roots and the bold, unfiltered essence of New York—has shaped my identity and creative perspective. It’s that duality of influences that I explore through my work, merging the old and the new, traditional and contemporary design.

The creative process behind Clásico Gótico was an exploration of duality, blending the stark minimalism of industrial New York with the rich cultural textures of my Argentine roots. The collection began as a reflection of my own evolution, both as an artist and as an individual. I wanted to create something that felt timeless, yet raw pieces that could stand as symbols and how they connect with people. Chains, crosses, and leather are not just materials but symbols of personal significance. They can represent your heritage, freedom, and rebellion—elements I’ve carried with me since my youth.

No, definitely not. The way I approach both collections and sound is through exploration and improvisation. When I went to Buenos Aires to visit family, I decided to take some trips into the city, where I could purchase leather and metal fixtures. I began exploring materials that felt connected to me, both mentally and physically. It was an organic process, and as I spent more time in those environments, I found myself connecting those two worlds in a way that felt natural and beautiful. It became a reflection of this vulnerable place I’m in—where I’m balancing the two worlds that have shaped me most. The Argentine culture I was raised with and the raw energy of New York that’s continuously evolving me. I didn’t set out to create something specific—it just unfolded. In doing so, it ended up telling a story that feels both personal and powerful, but of course, MPS has my fashion sense, which is mostly black and minimal colours, haha.

My message would be: be authentic and embrace all the chaos. The world is constantly pushing you to conform, but resist. Create and design from your true self, no matter how messy or unpredictable the journey may seem. The beauty of this process lies in the contradictions and challenges, and it’s in those moments that the most powerful, unique work is born. Stay true to your vision and let the chaos fuel your creativity.

Rosalía, she's the definition of being an artist, representing growth, heritage, and authenticity.