LAURA KIRAR

For her Glyph series of ceramic tables and furnishings, Mexico-based designer Laura Kirar (American, b. 1970) produces raku-fired stoneware clay on which iridescent lines, arcs, and planes are inset into delicate off-white surfaces. The traditional raku technique produces chance patterns on the exterior of each slip-cast piece of ceramics; a network of thin meandering lines leave smoky traces on the glaze like the jagged snaking vectors of a bolt of lightning or the fissures left by evaporating water in mud. Kirar’s bold visual language of glyphs inscribed in bronze, copper, and silver glazes are drawn from an orthographic system of her own invention. Each character, selected from a set of 22 glyphs, corresponds to a tangible or abstract concept: the natural elements; wind, atmosphere, fire, mist, and smoke; the sun, sky, and moon; as well as intangible notions of belonging, including home, support, stillness, and abundance. Their scale and form is carefully considered to suggest equal standing and set the conditions for thoughtful and respectful interactions. “Glyph is both the ancient and the future,” Kirar writes, “a visual message waiting to be decoded.”

Kirar is an internationally renowned visual artist who creates memorable interiors, products, and collectible designs with a timeless sensibility, reflecting her respect for history, materials and innovation. It has been her mission to foster artistic collaboration within the realms of artisanal crafts and various design disciplines, always merging modern and traditional techniques. Her extensive travels and studio work in Mexico are powerful influences on each project she undertakes. Kirar’s artwork and functional sculpture have been exhibited internationally at venues such as the Tamayo Museum, LongHouse Museum, and AGO Projects, and her artwork is part of numerous private collections. She holds a degree in sculpture and interior architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.