Melbourne Ceramic Artist creates abstract paintings that can be used as part of your daily ritual.

I would like to introduce you to Melbourne Ceramic Artist Elnaz Nourizadeh.

A Colourful Mug of Joy

Meet the Melbourne creative behind stunning ceramics, sculptures, and installations! From vibrant vessels to intricate sculptures, Elnaz’s work encompasses functional ceramics, sculptures and installations. Her functional work is kiln-made vessels – vases, mugs and bowls – painted with bright strokes of colour. They evoke a sense of curiosity, with abstract motifs outside and hidden on the inside. It is a joy to eat or drink from one of Elnaz’s joyfully coloured vessels.

Born in Tehran, Elnaz started ceramic and sculpting as an early teen under the supervision of Maryam Salour when she became interested in abstraction and the colour field movement. Meanwhile, Studying for a Bachelor of Industrial Design brought a touch of geometric forms into her work.

In 2013, Elnaz moved to Melbourne and continued her life as a full-time ceramist.

“I have a powerful visual mind, I see shapes and colours when I talk to people and interact with the world,” Nourizadeh says. “I just transfer all of the ideas in my head onto my ceramics. I see shapes and colours everywhere.” Her pieces stir feelings of joy with colour.

Sculpture titled Break Out #2 (2014)

Nourizadeh’s sculptures depict complex emotions. She crafts them using leftover clay from her functional pieces. They are more literal, often depicting bodies curled or folded into various positions.

“My sculptures are based on the idea that the feelings we have are never just one feeling, they’re a combination of many,” she explains.

installation titled Soft Transformation (2020)

Elnaz’s installations create a sense of wonder and introspection. Taking over their spaces, they are quite dominant, made using a variety of mediums such as clay, paper, wire, paint, and glue. One feels small passing by or through them. The installations exist for a very short time, a matter of days, and are rarely promoted. “If people don’t end up stumbling upon them, then it’s not part of their journey,” Elnaz says. 🎨✨

I discovered Elnaz Nourizadeh in 2017 when attending the Melbourne Garden Show. This event showcases the incredible works of landscape gardeners and local artisans creating sculptures for the garden and the home.

I was obsessed with one particular sculpture titled ‘Endless’, an earthy, organic globe towed by a beautiful ceramic bird with straining copper wire. It had such emotion, and I felt an instant connection with it. Being my usual self, I procrastinated about purchasing the piece, but on my return home, I could not stop thinking about its beauty. I contacted the artist to ask if it was still available. Unfortunately, the one I saw had sold, but Elnaz offered to make me my own personal version of the piece. I knew that each piece would have its own uniqueness as Elnaz’s artistic emotion would resonate in the individual pieces. I was delighted to accept the proposal. I waited for a message from Elnaz that my ‘Endless’ was ready.

I went to her studio to meet Elnaz and pick up my piece of art.

I could not have been more elated when I met the artist and saw my new artwork. Seeing the other pieces in Elnaz’s studio, I knew she was an amazingly talented woman and that I was indeed lucky to possess one of her works. Naturally, I left with a beautiful mug as well.

On completion of the work, I asked Elnaz to tell me the story of Endless. I cherish and am so grateful for her reply:

Sculpture titled Endless (2017)

“Making the Endless goes back about 6 months ago or maybe more. Last year after my birthday in September, I had strange feeling, I was thinking I don’t know myself at all, I felt like I know my husband, I know my friends but I don’t know Elnaz.

I had busy months until end of December because of Xmas time and selling my ceramics and I didn’t have time for myself, All those days I was feeling I’m carrying a heavy weight with myself and I don’t know what to do and that was Endless. (I have a note app on my phone and anytime I think, I make a note). All Dec I only added one word in my note, and that was “Endless.”

Normally after Xmas everything gets more relaxed for me, In January I decided to spent at least 2 hours in week to go for a walk a long the beach and only think about me and my feelings.

It was a great time, end of January I started to make the “Endless”.

The bird is me, you or anyone who carries all the feelings, emotions, all natural, heavy, happy, hard, easy, real , or unreal feelings. She keeps flying without ending, without getting tired, she cuts through and pull it harder because she believes she can make it. I was thinking about all these when I made it.

I called it Endless not because it was Endless, because I didn’t want to end carrying.

Now sometimes I think I could’ve call it something else, like hopeful, but to be honest, I am not really fussy about the name, the most important thing for me is I love it and thinking of it makes me happy. I hope it gives/reminds you so many good feelings (to carry).”

If you ever get the opportunity, please visit her Coburg North studio, gallery, and shop, Mesopotamia Art Space. Elnaz has created a space for exhibitions and artist gatherings and rents it out to other artists.

You can also find her work supporting causes at Social Studio, a not-for-profit social enterprise empowering Melbourne’s immigrant communities. “Selling my works through Social Studio and donating my work to other causes is my way of supporting the community. Getting the chance to help people through my art is the best thing that’s happened to me.”

Thank you, Elnaz, for the joy your creative talents bring into my life every time I soak in the stunning piece that is 'Endless'. 🥰