Kelly Wearstler's new tableware collections with Serax give luxury a playful, graphic twist

Making a remarkable debut into the realm of tableware, American designer Kelly Wearstler embarks on an exploration of abstract motifs and unconventional material applications across two distinct families: Zuma and Dune. The interplay of history and modernity is beautifully balanced between the two collections conceived by the Los Angeles-based interior and product designer, in collaboration with Belgian design brand Serax.

Zuma, drawing inspiration from both contemporary and historical technological elements, engages in a captivating dialogue between the past and the present. Meanwhile, Dune gracefully unites the textures and forms found in the natural world, marrying them with tangible materiality.

A diverse range of patterns is intentionally overlain on an earthy colour palette to encourage a playful mix and match across the two collections. The modern essence of the porcelain pieces is complemented by Wearstler’s stemware designs, featuring warm amber hues reminiscent of ancient glasswork. The stemware sports geometric designs that harmonise with its notably solid and linear structures, resulting in dynamic, graphic-patterned tableware. Here, the American designer ingeniously incorporates futuristic vector grids into the Zuma collection. Employing porcelain as her canvas, she skillfully deconstructs a digital graphic pattern to convey the authenticity of hand-painted artistry, achieving a delicate equilibrium between technological precision and artistic craftsmanship.

The collection manifests as a tactile ensemble of porcelain pieces available in classical hues of alabaster, slate, and clay. True to Wearstler's artistic ethos, the fusion of different materials stands central in this product design collection. The contrast between matte and high-gloss ceramic finishes accentuates the intricate contours and ridges that form the dishes and platters of the Dune series. The corrugated motif is expressed across glassware and flatware iterations, allowing an array of diverse table settings. Marble serve ware is thoughtfully integrated into the collection, anchoring the tablescape with shapes that mirror those found in the ceramics. The interior designer also incorporates organic wooden serving pieces into the Dune range to weave nature into the dining experience, thus completing the elemental family of ceramic, stone, glass, and metal, within her tableware.

Wearstler brings her expertise to this collaboration with Serax through combinations of materials, contrasts, finishes, and colours. With attention to detail, the Zuma and Dune collections imbibe elegance and novelty within daily dining and interior design settings, adding an element of play to one’s experience.

(Text by Aatmi Chitalia, Intern at STIR)