Catalin Filip, also known as Melo Clay, is a ceramic artist creating sculptural lamps and vessels shaped by the natural response of raw clay under the force of gravity. He bends, pulls, and stretches the material, aiming to preserve its fluidity in a hardened, stone-like form. The dynamics of folds and bends make each piece appear effortlessly shaped by elemental forces.
Starting with simple shapes—cylinders and tubes rolled from slabs—he suspends them over a rod and lets gravity guide their transformation, adjusting the form with minimal intervention. Inspired by natural distortions such as carved hills and wind-bent trees, he seeks to understand and echo these processes in his work. Each piece hints at its own creation, capturing not just the final form, but the journey of how it came to be.
With a background in architecture, Filip is drawn to the intersection of function and form. His ceramic lamps serve as both sculptural objects and practical light sources, designed to be visually compelling whether illuminated or not. The minimalist aesthetic and usability of his work make it easy to envision in domestic interiors, offering a quiet satisfaction through their seamless integration into space.
