Celestial Drift I

The artist

Alicia Dietz Studios designs and builds custom, contemporary furniture and sculpture that balances modern design with timeless craftsmanship built to last a lifetime. A former Blackhawk Maintenance Test Pilot and Commander in the Army, Alicia brings the same precision, discipline, and dedication demanded in aviation to her studio practice. Specializing in solid wood and ultra-high-performance concrete, Alicia often fuses these two contrasting materials to create a dialogue between the organic and the elemental. Each piece embodies a harmony that reflects her process-driven and collaborative approach — working closely with materials, designers, and clients to create work uniquely suited to each space and lifestyle. In a world built on planned obsolescence, Alicia’s work champions permanence, integrity, and craftsmanship. She honors each material’s inherent qualities — embracing their imperfections, structural strengths, and aesthetic resonance. What Alicia values most is the collaborative process of making. Every piece tells its own story: shaped by the grain of the wood, the movement of the concrete, and the exchange between maker and client. No two pieces are ever the same — the materials come together to create something neither could on their own. They become something completely new. While most of today’s manufacturing is built around planned obsolescence, permanence, integrity, and craftsmanship are at the core of her furniture. Alicia respects each material, stays true to their nature, understands their imperfections, utilizes their structural abilities, and embraces their aesthetic resonance. What she really loves is the collaborative process of making – the way that each piece of lumber is different from the next, working with clients to incorporate their own histories into a custom piece, and designing quality furniture perfectly suited for each space. No piece is identical to the next. What does ring true with each piece is the care, craftsmanship, and quality required for it to last in your family for generations.