MARLIES HUYBS

Belgian designer Marlies Huybs creates handmade objects, which are the result of an intuitive process. The imaginative journey is just as important as the destination. Her items grow steadily from her love for the matter and its colours. Every piece reflects the wayward beauty of her poetic visual language. Irregular textures and marks are part of her unique work and should be embraced.

Marlies Huybs views her ceramic practice as an antidote to the fast-paced modern world, embracing the art of slowing down and connecting deeply with her craft. For her, creating ceramics is a meditative process that requires patience and presence, where every stage invites her to engage with the material and the moment. Beginning with the tactile experience of working with raw clay, Marlies is drawn to the transformative journey the material undergoes—from a malleable state to a hardened, timeless form. She emphasizes that this transformation cannot be rushed, and it is this pace that fosters a sense of mindfulness and balance in her work.

The physicality of ceramics also plays a crucial role in her process. Marlies relishes the repetitive movements of kneading, shaping, and smoothing the clay, finding beauty in the rhythm of these ancient techniques.

She describes the act of molding the clay as a dance between control and letting go, where precision meets intuition. This balance is mirrored in the aesthetic of her pieces, which show simplicity, authenticity, and a quiet elegance.

Her choice of materials and techniques is deeply intentional. She often draws inspiration from organic forms and earthy textures, allowing these elements to inform the shape and surface of her creations. For Marlies, the imperfections that emerge during the process are not flaws but rather reflections of the material’s honesty and her own hand in its creation. This philosophy underscores her belief that slowing down and embracing imperfection can bring us closer to ourselves and the beauty of the world around us.

For Collection 14 Ark Kollekt presents the Kiwenga Totem set. The set can be used purely decoratively but also to store/honor small things that you cherish during your journey of life.