Natural Markings & Earthenware

You’ve probably noticed that we’re in the midst of an artisanal movement. Superior skills, paired with curation and innovation are inspiring new business plans everyday. Take Specks and Keepings or Small Spells, for example. Both companies are representative of the Makers Movement– one that celebrates handmade, beautiful products, graphic design and playful mistakes. Both companies are based in Brooklyn and incorporate subtle texture and playful patterns on handmade earthenware. It’s fun to follow the creative process on both instagram accounts (here and here)- have a look, it’ll consume and inspire you on this gray afternoon.

November 1, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buy: Handmade Porcelain

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Have you heard of Sprout Studio? They sell lovely one-of-a-kind, fire-glazed porcelain. The illustrated textures are a beautiful compliment to minimalist looks, revealing traces of human touch. The raw edges and pressed fingerprints remind us of the artist’s process – a true contrast from mass market sameness.

March 15, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

London: Economy of Attention

German artist Mike Meiré‘s latest exhibition, Economy of Attention, presents a series of large-scale works on paper alongside ceramic sculptures that embrace the medium of newsprint and highlight its structural beauty.

His latest body of work follows a series of singular paintings on newsprint, which examines existing grids in newspaper layout and reflects on the prioritization of information through graphic design.

Meiré’s background as an art director along with his intrinsic understanding of this medium allows him to strip the compositions to a bare minimum.

Central to all of Meiré’s work is a delicate interplay between the highly refined and mundane everyday materials. The juxtaposition of organic and often sexually explicit or gender-orientated ceramic objects alongside anodyne geometric elements play an increasingly important role in Meiré’s work.

As one line of work continues to inform the other, Meiré’s paintings and ceramic sculptures reveal a profound understanding of popular culture. It is this knowledge, which allows the artist to explore the deep-rooted neurotics that inhibit today’s societies and in turn challenges these through his work. Click here for more info.

Bartha Contemporary Ltd.: 25 Margaret Street, London W1W 8RX

August 7, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Monocromatic Parts

When you follow retail design, it’s hard not to love small things in mass. Today’s feature covers the monochromatic side of commercial clutter. Using texture and shape to create depth, each of these installations keeps the eye roving.

This black sculpture by Louise Nevelson is part of the permanent collection at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. Each shadow box tells a story, inviting the viewer to get lost behind each shape. Using molding to fill their most recent window display in Chelsea Market, Anthropologie has created a white linear collage.

Simulating ropes using ceramic, the refurbished Westfield Shopping Center in Sydney, Australia tricks the eye with it’s fantastically intricate exterior.

March 2, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Forest Tales

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There’s nothing more symbolic of the February winter slump than bare trees silhouetted by dusk. Designers from nearly every home goods and accessory category have infused their direction into this trend, moving away from the cozy appeal of eco-friendly design. Tuleh’s S/S09 patterns possess a whimsical stillness that alludes to natural transition. Flora detailing can also be found on glass plates sold at Lancelotti Housewares in downtown Manhattan. Each plate is an interactive experience for both the chef and the diner, as the transparent canvas provides a scenic backdrop for every meal.

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Embracing tonal medleys, Forest Tales speaks to a darker feminine side of contrasts. Selfridges of London sells pillows with sunrise/sunset references. Using only a narrow silhouette and silver embossing, this metallic leather-bound notebook from ABC Carpet is both bold and simple. Continuing to veer from prim and proper, this Black Forest China collection from Germany caters to the Tiffany-hating types, an under appreciated niche. Armani Code combines transparency, gradients and nature to produce elegant, sultry packaging for it’s latest signature fragrance.

February 23, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Which Porcelain Personality are You?

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On a recent trip to West Hollywood, I ventured into TableArt, a high-end home goods store with playfully decorative merchandise. I stopped in my tracks at the Landscape collection, a recent collaboration between Patricia Urquiola and Rosenthal China. The honeycomb reliefs within each plate, bowl and stem had accidental precision that was both delicate and striking. It reminded me of all the times I wanted to leave personal markings in wet cement as a kid, a thought that undoubtedly crosses the mind of every child. Though the writers from Cool Hunting and Design Boom covered this release a few months ago, it’s noteworthy to observe and compare other relief projects that have recently emerged and continued to shape this ongoing trend over the past few months. Below are a few examples of ceramic reliefs personifying natural and man-made influences.

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A Bryan Kerrigan tile installation uses high relief for ceramic architecture, Fast Vases is an abstract depiction of old-world Ming Dynasty artistry fused with futuristic digital technology, Bryan Kerrigan’s woodgrain tile mimics wooden floor panels and a mountain range inspired topographic plate designed by Japanese artist, Kyouei.

February 10, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik