Pattern Language

Patterns are more than decorative details. They can express cultural identity, reveal an artist’s creative process, and create something unexpected. From geometric paintings and retro-inspired ceramics to traditional Persian motifs and intricate textile work, these four artists use pattern as a language of their own.

Discover how repetition, visual rhythm, and thoughtful design influence their work. You can find these artists and many more at the One of a Kind Holiday Show, December 3 – 6!

Inspired by her Persian heritage, designer Maloos Khonsarian creates resin backgammon and chess boards, serving pieces and accessories. Each design is meant to create beautiful reasons for people to gather, play and spend time together.

Tell us about your creative process.

Maloos: My process usually begins with a pattern, sometimes discovered in an old rug or a piece of historic architecture. I photograph, study, simplify and rework it, experimenting with color and composition until it feels both distinctly Persian and at home in a contemporary space.

How did Maloos Design begin?

Maloos: The idea really began during a trip to Yazd, Iran, where I came across a beautiful piece of historic tilework. I photographed it, reworked the pattern and turned it into my first design, SANAM. That experience made me realize how much inspiration I could draw from the Persian art I grew up surrounded by.

What makes your work unique?

Maloos: I don’t think of it simply as resin art. Resin is just the medium that allows me to bring Persian patterns into everyday objects and give them a new context. As an immigrant who has called the United States home for almost two decades, this work is my way of bringing a piece of where I come from into the place I now call home. Fun fact: I’m also a wedding photographer!

Chicago ceramic artist Megan Sauvé creates contemporary home goods and lighting with a nostalgic, eclectic feel. Drawing on retro motifs, architecture, textiles and vintage décor, her work balances the spontaneity of the wheel with the precision of carefully applied patterns.

Tell us about your creative process.

Megan: I work intuitively at the pottery wheel to create the forms, then decorate them using custom-made vinyl stencils and hand-taped techniques. Being at the wheel is about getting into a flow, while decorating is more tedious and methodical, which satisfies the other half of my very organized, problem-solving spirit.

What makes your work unique?

Megan: Many artists who create geometric and repeated patterns do so on pieces made with plaster molds, so each piece is the same size. I make everything by hand on the wheel, which means each piece can vary slightly. I design parts of the pattern to overlap so they allow for that variation. The result feels very human and handmade, but with clean, precise patterns.

Where do you find inspiration?

Megan: Whenever I’m out and about, I catalog visual inspiration, like the print on a friend’s skirt, an architectural detail or a tile pattern. At shows, I often ask people to take photos for a sort of ​“pots and pairing” when their outfits match the vibe of one of my pieces.

For Brian Hofmeister, a single shape can offer endless possibilities. Through his ongoing Permutations series, he explores a teardrop form across a wide range of media, techniques, and themes. By returning to the same shape again and again, Hofmeister has created more than a thousand original pieces.

Tell us about your creative process.

Brian: By setting a very narrow constraint, I allow myself to experiment and play with media, techniques and themes. Visually, I tend to explore the tensions between extremes, such as order and chaos, light and dark, and coolness and warmth.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Brian: I often revisit ideas from previous Permutations, and it’s endlessly exciting to look through my archives and find a detail that intrigues me. Every mark made on a surface is a decision, and I think of those moments as crossroads. Sometimes I look at an older piece and discover what would have happened if I’d made a different choice.

How has your practice evolved?

Brian: In 2017, I started living abroad, spending seven years in five different cities across Asia and South America. I had to reinvent my entire artistic practice, and I still incorporate themes and materials from those travels. Fun fact: my day job is as a digital graphic designer, but 99% of my artwork is done by hand.

Reem Youssef creates contemporary sterling silver jewelry that turns memories, places and everyday details into something wearable. Each piece is designed and handmade by Reem, pairing traditional craftsmanship with color and a strong sense of form and pattern.

Tell us about your creative process.

Reem: My creative process begins with inspiration from Egypt, architecture, nature and the places I visit. I translate these moments into jewelry, combining traditional craftsmanship with hand-painted enamel and natural stones. Each piece begins as my own sketch and evolves through experimentation and handcrafting into something that feels distinctly RY.

How has your background shaped your work?

Reem: My background in interior design taught me to see form, proportion, pattern and space differently. Jewelry became a natural way to bring that way of seeing into something smaller, more personal and wearable.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Reem: The moment an idea turns into something real. I’m endlessly inspired by discovering new places, patterns, colors and stories. Fun fact: I can’t walk past an interesting pattern, texture or tiny detail without mentally turning it into a piece of jewelry. My camera roll is basically a collection of future designs!