In the UAE, ceramics are moving beyond the dining table and into collectible sculpture, bespoke interiors, and large-scale art. From Emirati-led studios to artists working at the intersection of architecture and nature, these five names show how clay has become one of the region’s most compelling luxury materials. 

House of Clay

Founded in Dubai in 2019 by Shamsa Juma and Madar Alsuwaidi, House of Clay is an Emirati ceramic studio and gallery whose practice spans cups, vessels, sculpture, wall works, murals, installations, and large-scale commissions. Every piece, handmade in Dubai, is built around the individual character of the material, process, and hand. Its commissions range from bespoke sculptures and vessels to murals, hospitality projects, interior projects, brand collaborations, and site-specific installations, pushing ceramics across both intimate collecting and architectural scale. 

Shaima Ahli

Moving away from mass-produced mugs, vases, and tablewares, Emirati ceramics artist Shaima Ahli creates handcrafted ceramic pieces, each presented as individual works of art and carrying the emotions of its making. Working across wheel-thrown and hand-built pieces, her designs are tactile and deeply personal alternatives to standardised designs and production. Blending traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics, her work often carries materials from across the globe, bringing them together into brilliant works of art. 

Rawa Forma

Best known for its “ceramic balloons”, the UAE-based ceramic studio creates sculptural works that transform a fleeting moment into a permanent ceramic art. The studio also creates collectible vessels that explore volume, balance, and architectural form, treating each object as a sculpture rather than a simple functional ware. Working closely with collectors, architects, and designers, they create pieces that integrate themselves into a specific space and context.

Asma Belhamar

An interdisciplinary artist, Asma Belhamar works with ceramics alongside installation, print, video, and 3D modelling to explore the country’s shifting landscapes and spatial memory. Her ceramic works often push clay beyond its familiar environment and into architectural scale. One of her most notable works is the Union of Arts, commissioned by Dubai Culture with Art Dubai, the first permanent large-scale public sculpture of the Dubai Public Art Initiative. 

Khadija Zulquarnain 

Creating hand-built ceramics and sculptures, Khadija Zulquarnain’s work is a blend of tactile texture, vibrant glazes, and subtle storytelling. Working primarily with white earthenware slabs, she presses patterns, found objects, and sometimes hidden Urdu words into wet clay, drawing inspiration from miniature painting, nature, architecture, and everyday life. Her sculptural work is more intuitive and exploratory, allowing material and process to shape the form.