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.
What a delight to see Eli on TDF today! Her ceramics are like individual paintings come to life on clay… each new piece so different to the one before. I look forward to seeing that life-size urban sculpture one day :)
You have a good eye for unearthing Melbourne talent, Lisa Marie!
Lovely work, lovely story! Thank you!
(Just an aside from a grammar-Nazi: you’ve spelled “practice” wrong in three places. “Though she has practiced pottery” should read “practised”; and “She continued to practice” should read “practise”; “able to practice” should be “practise”. “Practise” is the verb; “practice” — with a “c” — is a noun. Also, there’s a misplaced apostrophe in the first line. Apologies for the pedantry.)
xx
I have followed Elnaz since her first market and I am very happy to see her wonderful ceramics promoted on TDF.
Her colours and glaze are truly unique and I love the pieces I have collected.
I have one of her beautiful vases at home, and gave a number of mugs to family for Christmas last year. Special pieces! I love her style.
Elnaz’s ceramics are lovely and I can see a touch of that German modernist style that’s getting a bit of a revival, but at the same time totally unique.