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Nathalie Khayat’s SALT Travels to the Depths of the Sea Via Clay

05.18.23 | By
Nathalie Khayat’s SALT Travels to the Depths of the Sea Via Clay

House of Today, a non-profit committed to fostering Lebanon’s sustainable design culture, presented Nathalie Khayat’s SALT during Frieze Los Angeles earlier this year. Curated by founder Cherine Magrabi Tayeb, the works that make up SALT revolve around a creative process that involved exploring sculptural dimensions of functional objects – such as bowls, vases, and candelabras – without assigning them a purpose.

abstract organic clay sculpture

UPRUSH

“The SALT collection allows for ample room for viewers to interpret and explore the creative process and what was born of it,” Khayat shared. “I found that nature was speaking through me, which was expressed in both the creative process and the unique items that emerged.” Khayat added that she “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.”

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

The pieces within SALT offer meticulous details and robust shapes that are glazed in beiges, deep greens, and touches of red. Each one-of-a-kind organic shape seems as though it’s been pulled from the depths of the sea, which is exactly where Khayat found inspiration to peel back and mold their layers of clay.

detail of abstract organic clay sculpture

ABYSS

Khayat said, “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.”

detail of abstract organic clay sculpture

BACKRUSH

abstract organic clay sculpture

CONVERSATION 2

detail of abstract organic clay sculpture

CONVERSATION 2

abstract organic clay sculpture

MAGNETIC

detail of abstract organic clay sculpture

MAGNETIC

abstract organic clay sculpture

MYST

abstract organic clay sculpture

NO TITLE

abstract organic clay sculpture

RESONNANCE 1

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

abstract organic clay sculpture

RIPRAP

abstract organic clay sculpture

RIPTIDE

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

abstract organic clay sculpture

RUSTLE

detail of abstract organic clay sculpture

RUSTLE

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

abstract organic clay sculpture

SALT MARCH 1

abstract organic clay sculpture

SALT MARCH 3

abstract clay sculpture

T7

styled abstract organic clay sculpture

light-skinned woman with long brown hair wearing glasses and a grey shirt and work apron

Nathalie Khayat

To learn more about SALT, visit houseoftoday.com.

Photos by Elie Abi Hanna.

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.