- American ceramic studio East Fork has unveiled its latest project, The Matisse Collection, as a tribute to Henri Matisse – great-grandfather of CEO & Founder Alex Matisse.
- Featuring crockery that blurs the lines between artwork and tableware, it includes dinner plates, serving platters, and more, each offering a nod to the elder Matisse’s legendary career.
- Prices range from US$44 (AU$70) to US$360 (AU$565), and the collection is currently available from the brand’s online store.
East Fork, the American ceramic studio known for its beautifully understated pottery, has unveiled its latest project: The Matisse Collection.
A heartfelt tribute to Henri Matisse (who also inspired part of the Swatch x Tate Gallery collection), great-grandfather of East Fork CEO & Founder Alex Matisse, the limited series brings some of the artist’s most iconic works onto a fresh kind of canvas – one that’s meant to be enjoyed daily.
The collaboration, developed meticulously over two years alongside Les Héritiers Matisse, showcases functional homewares that recreate the works of Matisse to an impressive level of detail. Highlight pieces feature selections from Matisse’s late artistic career, including the fluid lines of his aquatint portraits and the bold cut-outs from Nu bleu and La Perruche et la sirène.
“For a long time, my family’s legacy felt more like a shadow than something to celebrate, so much so that I needed to disappear in the mountains of North Carolina to find my way out of it,” Alex Matisse said in an interview with Wallpaper.
Executed with an exacting decaling process, the designs are transferred onto the ceramic surface using coloured pigments – including Matisse’s trademark blue – and fired once more to achieve a permanent, crisp finish. As with all East Fork pottery, each piece is crafted at their Asheville, North Carolina factory, a firm that prides itself on creating ceramics with a strong focus on longevity and quality craftsmanship.
“Now that [East Fork’s] stood firmly on its own for many years, the weight of that legacy has lightened enough to celebrate and honour it. This collection is the beautiful culmination of that process.”
Blending a legacy of artistry with a commitment to modern craft, The Matisse Collection invites collectors and home enthusiasts alike to celebrate beauty, creativity, and the simple pleasure of a well-set table. It’s a rare chance to interact daily with functional pieces of art, bridging the gap between fine art and everyday living.
The Matisse Collection prices range from US$44 (AU$70) for The Mug in La Sirène to US$360 (AU$565) for the Dinner Plate Set Nu bleu, I-IV. All pieces are currently available via the brand’s online store.
