Ani Harper – Owner ORNOVA Studios
From conceptual sketches, 3D renders, and full working drawings, to the fabrication, installation and final inspections, Ani Harper works internationally, building high-end custom architectural features and fine art installations for residential, commercial, and public places.
“Thanks to my dad who has had a few businesses of his own over the years, I have always been a business-minded person. I’ll give the short version of my career story; Learned to weld in high school, studied Architecture in college, moved to the West Coast of Canada in 2010, and between 2011 and 2017 I worked for two amazing companies; One designs and builds mostly commercial theme parks with very whimsical designs, and the other specializes in hyper realistic architectural features and theme work. Constructing environments much like Disney and big movie sets, these companies taught me many different techniques using a variety of materials such as steel, concrete, wood, fiberglass, foam, paint, etc. in ways you’ve never dreamed of. The themed environments world is truly amazing.
In 2017 I moved back to Eastern Canada, started my own business – Ornova Studios. Since then I have been traveling and working around Ontario, completing custom projects mostly onsite, and it has been amazing! The technical builds that need a big shop space, I have found it more economical to develop temporary shop-sharing agreements with multiple local fabrication shops, and it’s usually a win, win, everyone supporting everyone.
Now that I have had a taste of the bohemian life, I have my eye set on building a tiny house/bus conversion that will be my office, towing a modular, fold out mobile fabrication shop. I hope to line up new projects working collaboratively with as many different artists and fabricators as I can, filming the whole journey and showing people the life of a sustainable, creative, nomadic fabrication business. Some advice I would give to other women is, to be authentic, not unique.”
Ani Harper Owner: ORNOVA STUDIOS
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