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Khaled El Mays Returns To Design Miami/ 2021 With New Nature

12.14.21 | By
Khaled El Mays Returns To Design Miami/ 2021 With New Nature

A colorful, vibrant new collection from Kahled El Mays’ multidisciplinary studio was released at Design Miami/ 2021 with the support of House of Today. Made by talented craftspeople from Mexico City, New Nature shares a glimpse of furniture in the organic process of becoming “a moving state where volumes shift, interact and weave together before taking solid shape”. The collection is made up of bar, booth, chairs, coffee table, and mirror that bring together leather, ceramic, wood, and wicker in an inspired way that incorporates Surrealism and Art Nouveau.

“I have slowly been approaching the Art Nouveau period of design history, attempting to extract subtle lines to make them my own. New Nature, the result of four years of research, is a new angle and interpretation of this period infused with contemporary nodes and a playfulness that I always like to invite as a consistent thread in my work. The exploration is ongoing and most importantly, now intertwined with Mexico City, where I was introduced to a new language of color and craft without which this series would not have come into being,” El Mays said.

colorful furniture in styled space

Photo: Michael Pisarri

New Nature includes the designer’s first chair design, as well as his first time incorporating ceramics into work. It was House of Today’s founder, Cherine Magrabi Tayeb, who suggested El Mays look into the material in 2016 while in Mexico City as part of a mentorship. The non-profit finds new ways to keep alive and promote the work of Lebanese designers and the country’s design culture. Residencies like this one, along with education scholarships abroad, are used to globally promote Lebanese design.

Magrabi Tayeb went on to say, “Lebanon is known for design, and our designers are our cultural ambassadors to the world, painting a positive face of what our country has to offer. It is imperative that we continue to encourage creative growth and expression, and empower design culture as a contributing force to change.”

colorful chair and two tables

Photo: Michael Pisarri

colorful cabinet and mirror

Photo: Michael Pisarri

colorful coffee table and cabinet

Photo: Michael Pisarri

colorful mirror hanging on wall

Photo: Michael Pisarri

detail of colorful cabinet

Photo: Michael Pisarri

colorful coffee table

Photo: Michael Pisarri

detail of wood cabinet

Photo: Michael Pisarri

furniture collection on display in booth

Photo: Michael Pisarri

furniture collection on display in booth

Photo: Michael Pisarri

colorful cabinet on white background

Photo: Hector Mendoza

colorful chair on white background

Photo: Hector Mendoza

colorful mirror on white background

Photo: Hector Mendoza

colorful coffee table on white background

Photo: Hector Mendoza

totems on white background

Photo: Hector Mendoza

brown-skinned man with dark hair and facial hair wearing a white button down shirt surrounded by colorful furniture

Khaled El Mays

For more information, visit houseoftoday.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.