If you’ve ever been in a YouTube vortex, watching video after video, you’ll know how easily five minutes can turn into an hour when you become engrossed in some new discovery. That’s what happened when I first came across Elnaz Nourizadeh’s work.  Scrolling through her recent creations via instagram lured me in quicker than a viral video of a panda sneezing. I literally stared at photos of her work for my entire lunch break, before I had even taken a bite of my lunch.

Elnaz moved to Melbourne from Iran in 2013. A profession in pottery and sculpture wasn’t originally part of her plan, instead she studied Industrial Design at the University of Tehran. Her first introduction to pottery was during high school. She continued to practice on and off throughout the years, always considering it a hobby, until she became a ceramic teacher’s assistant. After graduating from university, she shifted gears and pursued pottery and began to teach ceramics to others full-time.

Now working from her home studio in Middle Park, Elnaz continues making her striking ceramics and sculptural pieces. Her functional vessels are made distinctive by Elnaz’ handpainted glazing techniques, whilst her sculptural work references an obsession with ancient ceramics.  Elnaz says her work is a ‘fusion between modern design and an ancient craft.’  Most of her tableware is thrown, but occasionally she will hand build decorative pieces.

Elnaz says her work and colour palettes are influenced by ‘everyday things I see in the streets, music I listen to, the news or anything that catches my eye during a day.’ Her dream project would be to create a life size sculpture in an urban space, but right now she is content that she is able to practice her craft daily, and happy to have turned her much loved hobby into a job.

Elnaz Nourizadeh’s work is available from her online store or from her stockists listed here.