From Neighbor to Artist: Amanda’s Journey into Body Casting
Sometimes, the most unexpected encounters lead to the most meaningful experiences. That’s exactly what happened to Amanda, an artist originally from the U.S., who has been living in Valencia for almost four years now. Her story begins with a neighborly hello—and evolves into a deep, creative journey in the world of body casting.
A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
Amanda met Orión, her future collaborator, in the most casual way: leaving her apartment one day. It was next door to the studio and after a year of walking past, she finally asked him if he offered classes.
“He said no … but mentioned he was looking for an assistant.
I said yes 100% immediately.”
That afternoon they made their first mold together, Amanda’s balled right fist with rings. Two weeks after that, they relocated into their next, bigger studio space. They set it up from scratch, and the rest, as Amanda says, is history.
Discovering the Art
At first, Amanda thought the sculptures she saw were made of clay—something she’d always loved working with.
“I didn’t even know bodycasting was a thing. I thought it was ceramics! But when he explained what it really was, I thought it was so cool. That’s what made me want to work with him.”
And there was a funny twist: she had asked him for classes in Spanish, only to find out he also spoke English—because he was from the U.S. too.
From those early molds to now, Amanda has worked on seven pieces of her own and is working on her eighth.
A Favorite Piece (and a Bit of Fear)
Of all the sculptures she's been a part of, Amanda’s favorite is one she made with her friend, our own Victoria:
“We’ve always worked together, but doing a piece side by side, just laying there—it was so much fun. At one point I was really scared because the cast got heavy, but she held me down. I loved that one.”
Despite her love for the process, Amanda admits she was terrified of face casting at first:
“I’m very claustrophobic. Seeing people get their faces done scared me so much—I said I’d never do it.”
But eventually, curiosity (and encouragement from Victoria) won out. Her first attempt was a mask cast, which helped her ease into the experience. Then she did another that covered her face from the nose down, realizing she could still breathe and be calm through the process.
“I thought, okay, I can do this. And then I did.”
The Meaning Behind the Art
What draws Amanda to this work isn’t just the process—it’s what it represents. She speaks passionately about the emotional and human side of body casting:
“I think the story behind the project is more special to us than it might seem from the outside. It’s not about finding models that look a certain way. It’s more about energy, about who they are.”
For Amanda, the true beauty is in the imperfections.
“I have this tiny hole on my face—I don’t even know where it came from—but seeing it in the sculpture and realizing, that’s really me, that’s beautiful. It captures every single detail.”
She’s also seen how the experience transforms the people who come into the studio.
“Some people come in insecure. Then they see their cast—maybe their face, maybe a part of their body—and they love it. And that, to me, is more beautiful than the piece itself.”
The Studio, the Vibe, the Future
Amanda lights up when she talks about the studio itself—the vibe, the people, the process.
“Even when it’s a total mess, I think it’s beautiful. Because the mess means we made something. It’s not random. We created that.”
She loves welcoming new models, making them feel comfortable, connecting with them before and after the mold. It’s a full-circle experience, both technical and emotional.
As for what’s next?
“I see us maybe on tour, not in some cocktail gallery with snobby rich people. That’s not our vibe. I see us more like… cool-ass artists, drinking wine, hanging out. I do think we’ll be in galleries, just not those kinds.”
“I definitely see us on someone’s wall one day.”
Thank you for joining us in this conversation with Amanda. We hope it offered you fresh perspectives and inspiration. Stay tuned for more interviews coming soon!
