aspire design+home magazine - Fall 2026
Muse: Ceramist Lois Samuels Looks To Past And Present In Her Work
written by Shannon Sharpe
Art was something that ignited and stimulated me in so many ways, and when I was discovered by a modeling scout, I was given the opportunity to explore that while traveling.” Even as she walked runways for fashion legends such as the late Alexander McQueen and modeled for magazines that included Vogue Italia, Samuels was designing, photographing, painting and writing. But it was clay that she eventually fell in love with.
“I wanted to experience something that you can touch,” she describes. “Something coming out of you. That’s where ceramics came in.” For Samuels – whose work is available through the Los Angeles gallery Twentieth and was recently showcased at the Paris gallery Cinémorphe during Ceramic Art Fair – this predictability sparked a quiet rebellion. “By age 14. I was already thinking, ‘How do I get to see the world?’ Art was something that ignited and stimulated me in so many ways, and when I was discovered by a modeling scout, I was given the opportunity to explore that while traveling.” Even as she walked runways for fashion legends such as the late Alexander McQueen and modeled for magazines that included Vogue Italia, Samuels was designing, photographing, painting and writing. But it was clay that she eventually fell in love with. “I wanted to experience something that you can touch,” she describes. “Something coming out of you. That’s where ceramics came in.”This evolution isn’t a departure from her past, but rather a culmination of it, referencing the role soil and farming played in her early life. “The earth is such a magical element,” she notes. “You plant a seed, and somehow, once it touches earth, it becomes alive. My ceramics are rooted in the past, the present and my life’s journey.”This is an underlying theme in all her series, from Fragmented Beauty – in which she molds together bits of clay into forms that celebrate resilience – to Open, where imprints of towels and linens symbolize nourishment and receptivity. The silhouettes of Portal evoke womanhood and fertility, while Wave Medallion reflects life’s unpredictable rhythms.
“There’s something so organic and soulful in the execution of all my pieces”, Samuels shares. I hope that resonates with others.”
Paris Exhibition at Cinemorphe
A special thank you to all who attended my opening during Paris’ Ceramic Design Fair - A huge thank you to Cinemorphe for hosting such a special occasion - my very first solo exhibition in Paris. I’m truly moved by your presence and support!
October 23rd in Paris!
Excited to be exhibiting in Paris on October 23rd during Ceramic Design Week at:
10 Rue Bichat - Cinemorphe
Opening Night - October 23, 2025 from 6pm - 9pm
Part proceeds from sales will be donated to ALIMA.
Contact for inquiries and pricing - hello@loissamuels.com
A Ceramic Story with Neha Kapur
Lois Samuels is the newest featured artist in The Honor Series, a compelling new documentary project by Neha Kapur spotlighting emerging creatives around the world.
In their candid conversation filmed at Twentieth, a leading design and art gallery in Los Angeles, Lois reveals her relationship with clay, the language of her Wave Medallion series and the journey that led her to ceramics as a medium of expression.
The beautifully shot piece was filmed at design and art gallery, Twentieth, Los Angeles.
The Wave Medallion series is available exclusively through Twentieth and on the 1stDibs platform.
See more from Neha Kapur at @nehakapur