Sarah Nedovic
Sarah Nedovic creates sculptural lamps made of clay whose organic and sensuous forms are a joyous celebration of women.
Photography: Lauren Bamford
FINE DETAILS | Styling - Stephanie Stamatis.
LADY ‘54 | Sarah Nedovic. Styling - Stephanie Stamatis.
Tell us about your journey as an artist - how did it begin?
I’ve always been creative. As a child I would often come home with pockets full of leaves and feathers. I was drawn to the colours and patterns within these unique little treasures. I still do this! My car is full of random pieces I pick up on my walks. After I finished school, I studied Textile Design at RMIT and worked as a textile artist in the fashion industry for 13 years. As I grew older, my interest shifted from fashion and textiles to the arts, art history and sculpture.
“It’s really interesting how your connection to some things doesn’t change. I suppose this was an early sign I would become an artist. ”
How did you first discover sculpture?
I started experimenting with sculpture a few years ago. It started as a hobby at nights and on weekends. I saw it as an opportunity to get my hands dirty and step away from the everyday routine of working as a textile designer. I enrolled in a life sculpture course, which is similar to life drawing but using clay to mould the human figure. From then on I was hooked. My style and technique using clay has evolved a lot since those early days.
Sarah Nedovic in her Melbourne home.
LADY ‘99 | Sarah Nedovic. Styling - Stephanie Stamatis.
Your lamp designs are named after women - tell us a little about this?
I started calling my lamp sculptures ladies because I felt really connected to each piece and wanted them to have an identity. I also wanted my work to be a celebration of women. The sculptures are named after significant women in history, for example Lady ’75 is named after the late sculptor Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975).
What first sparked the inspiration to create them?
My mother-in-law gave my husband and I a pair of lamps by the London-based sculptor, Margit Wittig. Shortly after that, one of my friends gave me a bag of clay. Those two gifts really ignited my passion for designing the lamps.
What’s your design process like?
I start by drawing the designs in my notebook. I have countless pages of shapes and ideas for lamps. Once I have decided on a design, I start hand building the body of the lamp from clay. Often the lamp design evolves during construction and I will end up with something quite different from the original drawing.
AT HOME | Inside artist Sarah Nedovic’s Melbourne home.
“I feel that when you create something by hand, you leave a part of yourself in the design. ”
LADY ‘18 | Sarah Nedovic. Styling - Stephanie Stamatis.
LADY ‘75 | Sarah Nedovic. Styling - Stephanie Stamatis.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I can find inspiration almost anywhere. I’m creatively ‘on’ a lot of the time. The star shape on the first lamp I designed was inspired by a vintage Christian Lacroix earring from Vestiaire Collective. I bought the earrings when I got my first order enquiry!
As an artist, what’s one design element you always return to ?
Balance. I like my lamps to have a certain harmony about them.
“I design the shapes within each piece to complement one another, so the eye runs smoothly over the design. I think people see beauty in balance.”
What are you most looking forward to for the remainder of this year?
I just had my first baby a few months ago, so I am really looking forward to spending our first summer at the beach as a family of three.
LADY ‘43 | Sarah Nedovic.
Sarah Nedovic in her Melbourne home.