Crafting the future: Merging Tradition and Innovation with Abi Fantastic, Angel Muñoz and Daniel González
In a world of constant change, artists must find a balance between tradition and innovation. This 5-hour workshop explores how to integrate traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital tools to enhance artistic expression and expand creative possibilities.
The first part, led by Abi Fantastic, delves into the artist’s journey, offering insights into traditional crafts, creative techniques, and practical strategies for bringing handmade art into the commercial world. Participants will explore the significance of craft in today’s artistic landscape and how to sustain it in a digital era.
In the second part, Daniel Gonzalez and Angel Muñoz introduce the future of crafting, demonstrating how AI, VR, and digital tools can transform physical creations. Participants will learn how to digitize their work, experiment with AI-driven design, optimize materials, and reduce waste—all while maintaining the essence of handcrafted art.
Through hands-on activities, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to bridge heritage with technology, empowering artists to evolve their practice and navigate the ever-changing creative landscape.
Duration: 5 hours total (incl. break)
Date: 14/04/2025
Location: ESPRONCEDA, Institute of Art & Culture is located at Carrer d’Espronceda 326, Nave 4, 5 & 10, 08027
Language: English
Organized by: ESPRONCEDA, Institute of Art and Culture
Introduction from ESPRONCEDA, Institute of Art and Culture
Led by: ESPRONCEDA
09.30 – 09.45
PART 1 — Tradition Meets Expression
Led by:Abi Fantastic
09.45 – 12:00
In the first part of the workshop, UK-born multidisciplinary artist Abi Fantastic will guide participants through her creative process blending craft, color, and storytelling. Through a mix of storytelling and hands-on exploration, she’ll share her approach to sustainability, material experimentation, and artistic authenticity
Practical Activity:
Participants will create a physical piece (collage, drawing, or small mixed-media work) using recycled or natural materials. These works will later serve as the foundation for digital transformation in the second half.
Break: 12:00 – 12:30
PART 2 — AI Crafting with ComfyUI
Led by:Daniel González & Ángel Muñoz
12:30 – 14:30
In the second part, participants will dive into the world of AI and creative automation. With ComfyUI, a modular tool for AI-generated images, Daniel and Ángel will demonstrate how handmade works can be digitized, transformed, and reimagined using advanced workflows.
What participants will explore:
- Introduction to ComfyUI
- Text-to-image generation
- Image manipulation & blending with physical inputs
- Optimizing digital workflows while keeping a “craft” mindset
About the artists
Abi Fantastic is a UK-born multidisciplinary artist whose work blends bold Abstract Expressionism with dynamic layering and vibrant color. Based between Barcelona and Morzine, she explores various creative realms, from painting to large-scale installations made from natural and found materials. She is also the founder of Collaboration Station, a multidisciplinary arts and music event that fosters creative exchange. Expanding her artistic practice, she launched Fashions by Fantastic, a fashion brand that transforms her expressive paintings into unique, wearable art. With an international presence, Abi continues to push the boundaries between fine art, design, and immersive experiences.
Ángel Muñoz is an expert in electronics, design, and robotics, and the founder of Loco Machines, a studio focused on blending art, science, and technology. With a background in software and hardware, he has worked with top clients like Prada, IKEA, and Airbus, and collaborated with startups such as Smart Citizen. Ángel is also a professor at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), teaching robotics and advanced construction in master’s programs.
Daniel González is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher specializing in VR, telepresence, and social innovation. Co-founder of BeAnotherLab, he helped create The Machine to Be Another, an embodied VR system exploring empathy and identity. His work has been showcased at the UN, Tribeca, and IDFA and awarded by Ars Electronica, Laval Virtual, and the European Social Innovation Competition. He also founded Omnipresenz and ImbueVR, pushing the boundaries of immersive storytelling and XR experiences.
About ESPRONCEDA, Institute of Art and Culture
Espronceda – Institute of Art & Culture is an innovative and independent cultural platform based in Barcelona, founded in 2013. It provides a multi-disciplinary environment for artists, curators, and researchers to develop their practice and engage with contemporary issues through art, technology, and cross-cultural dialogue. Espronceda serves as a creative hub that supports emerging and mid-career artists through international residencies, exhibitions, and educational programs. The institute fosters collaboration between artists, scientists, and institutions, working at the intersection of art, technology, and social innovation. www.espronceda.net
About Crafwork 4.0 ALL
Craftwork 4.0 ALL is a European project that explores the intersection between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary digital practices. Funded by Creative Europe, the project brings together cultural organizations, artists, and craftspeople from across Europe to co-create new narratives and hybrid forms of making, using both heritage techniques and digital tools. The project fosters collaboration, community engagement, and shared learning among artisans, designers, technologists, and cultural institutions, offering a space for dialogue between past and future, local and global. www.craftwork4all.com
Join our creative lab to explore how traditional craftsmanship can meet cutting-edge digital tools and eco-conscious methods.
This is your opportunity to grow your practice at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and sustainability.
We have limited spaces available and a few spots left! Please contact us to secure yours.
For more info and to apply, reach out at info@espronceda.net.
