Lebanese ceramicist Nathalie Khayat's collection is inspired by the ocean

Oceans have long fascinated writers and artists, with their vastness, depth, and enigmatic beauty. Picking up cues from the unfathomable depths of the ocean, Lebanese ceramicist Nathalie Khayat built a collection of functional objects. The SALT collection comprises a series of sculptural entities that can be viewed as both, decorative centrepieces as well as useable vases, bowls and candelabras.

Born and raised in the Mediterranean coast of Beirut, Lebanon at the foothills of Mount Lebanon, Nathalie Khayat studied the art of crafting ceramics in Montreal, where she opened her studio in 1999. Over the years, her work has been showcased in exhibitions across Montreal, Beirut, South Korea, London, and Paris. Khayat's ceramic works serve as a space for documenting her understanding of various natural phenomena and man-made occurrences. Fascinated by a variety of phenomena, both internal and physical, she studies germination and transplantation, as well as the acts of healing, surviving, loving and desiring. The result is a series of sculptural pieces that function as both ornamental art to utilitarian objects.

During Frieze Los Angeles, held in February 2023, Khayat's ceramic collection, SALT, was showcased at an exhibition curated by Cherine Magrabi Tayeb, the founder of House of Today, a non-profit dedicated to cultivating Lebanon's sustainable designculture. SALT highlights the designer’s creative process, of examining the sculptural dimensions of functional objects – vases, candleholders and bowls - without assigning them a purpose. The ceramic collection evokes images of the ocean grounds and the unadulterated natural world.

Each piece boasts meticulous details and robust shapes, adorned with glazes in soothing beiges, deep greens, and subtle touches of red. These one-of-a-kind organic forms appear as gracefully retrieved from the sea depths, as she skillfully unveils and shapes their clay layers. Khayat reveals, "I found that nature was speaking through me, which was expressed in both the creative process and the unique items that emerged." Adding to her description, she adds, “I embraced the idea of not setting clear intentions and abandoning norms, to birth a non-evident coherence between objects, where one calls on the other.” Khayat skillfully peels back the moulded clay layers while artfully blending two seemingly contrasting elements. The resulting creations resonate deeply, their significance magnified by the context in which they find themselves. “I aspire for each viewer to creatively approach the item before them, to play an active role in deciding on how it will take life in a space or setting, or how it will be used. There is an element of discovery and surprise with ‘Salt’ that I believe others will enjoy,” she shares.

While residing in Lebanon she perceives the cities environment as a catalyst for further nurturing her creativity. It propels her to seek innovative ways and solutions for every aspect, including her artistic creations. Her drive compels her to explore inventive methods and remedies for all aspects of her artistic endeavours. This intuitive approach to creation allows Khayat to craft emotional pieces infused with poetry. “I don’t think there is a message in my work as much as questions,” she states. “I love making unusual objects for usual use. It somehow engages the users to be creative in return, in the way they will use them.”

In describing her creative process, she elucidates that she follows the same approach when making a serving plate or a sculptural object. She begins her work with simple ideas, which, over the course of building the piece, are enhanced by the material's natural attributes as well as the effect of external conditions on them. This makes the final pieces a product of an interaction that the designer has with clay. She claims that her sculptures are the result of a serendipitous process, and hence, they drift away from expressing the initial idea conceived by Khayat. As a result, she shies away from merely replicating the same objects, embracing the excitement of exploring uncharted artistic territories. Through 'SALT', the artworks take on the semblance of fairytale entities, narrating an enchanting tale of utilitarian art, where guests become integral participants in the storytelling journey through exploratory art.

(Text by Irene Joseph, intern at STIR)